Craig, Molly (c. 1917–2004)
Craig, Molly (c. 1917–2004)
Australian Aborigine. Name variations: Molly Kelly. Born Molly Craig, c. 1917, in Jigalong, a community on the edge of the desert in Western Australia; died Jan 13, 2004, in Jigalong; dau. of Maude, a Mardudjara Aboriginal, and Thomas Craig, white British-born fence inspector of the rabbit-proof fence; sister of Daisy Kadibil; cousin of Gracie Fields; m. Toby Kelly (Aboriginal stockman); children: Annabelle; Doris Pilkington Garimara.
At 14, along with sister Daisy (8) and cousin Gracie (10), was forcibly taken from her settlement in Western Australia by the Australian government for being half-caste (July 1931); with sister and cousin, made a 1,500-mile journey on foot to return to family (Aug-Oct 1931), though Gracie was recaptured and trained as a domestic; after marrying, was removed from settlement again, with her 2 children (1940); escaped once more and returned to Jigalong with baby Annabelle, having had to leave elder daughter Doris behind (Annabelle was taken at age 3 [1943] and raised in a home for "near whites").
See also Doris Pilkington, Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence (U. of Queensland Press, 1996); (film) Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002).