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Maria Pilkington is a grand-daughter of strong matriarchs that have left behind an astounding legacy of love and resilience. Her mother was Aboriginal-Australian Doris Pilkington who wrote a book that became the Hollywood film, Rabbit-Proof Fence.

The book was based on the story of Doris's mother Molly. In the 1930s it was Australian policy that mixed-race children should be removed from any Aboriginal influence. Thousands were taken from their families and homes – they became known as the Stolen Generation. Molly and her sisters Daisy and Gracie were taken from the home they knew in Jigalong, far away to the Moore River Settlement to be taught to be domestic servants for white families. But Molly decided they would escape by following a rabbit-proof fence, a pest-control barrier that went through Western Australia. After walking for three months, Molly, her sister and cousin were reunited with their families.

Maria herself would encounter the same prejudice and threats that her maternal line had contended with. But her family’s strength and resilience made sure it would not happen again.

This programme contains outdated racist language, and has been edited since broadcast.

Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Sarah Kendal

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(Photo: Maria with her mother, grandmother, daughter, and grandchild. Credit: Courtesy of Maria Pilkington)