MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Tjupurula on June 13, 2013, 09:22:26 PM
-
Hi Swaggers
How many people here have travelled through different Australian towns, with Aboriginal names, and found out the definition of those names. A couple of examples: Woomera (throwing handle for spears), Kalkarindgi (running water meeting place). It would be so interesting to know how many people have thought about finding out if there is a definition for a town name.
Actually, there are quite a few City suburbs with Aboriginal names as well.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
Spent a few months at Kapooka....
Got the meaning drummed into us all through basic, then found out first hand where the meaning came from lol
The name Kapooka is derived from the local Indigenous dialect meaning 'place of wind'
Cheers
Evo
-
No....Upper Swan in Perth is not an Aboriginal name, and hopefully it does not mean what it sounds like either...poor swan.
Tjupurla
-
Spent a few months at Kapooka....
Got the meaning drummed into us all through basic, then found out first hand where the meaning came from lol
The name Kapooka is derived from the local Indigenous dialect meaning 'place of wind'
Cheers
Evo
Hi Evo
You wouldn't know by any chance who the local tribe was, would you ?
Tjupurla
-
I went to primary school in Zeerust which is supposed to mean "resting place". Probably not the best name for a school :D
-
Hi Evo
You wouldn't know by any chance who the local tribe was, would you ?
Tjupurla
Don't quote me on this, but I think it was the Wiradjuri people? as they are the original inhabitants of the wagga wagga area. From memory they were the largest tribe in NSW.
Being that Kapooka is so close to Wagga Wagga, and that it was named from the local dialect then that would be my guess. I have racked my brain but I can't say for certain if that was right or not.
Cheers
Evo
-
I lived in Maroochydore for many years. Maroochy means Place of the Black Swan I'm told ... although I never blardy saw even one! As kids we were told of the legends in school. Natural history fascinated me and still does.
Now Maroochy was this beautiful maiden. And two tribes tell her story a little differently, but with the same tragic result.
Tribe 1: Coolum and Ninderry were great warriors and they fought over her. Ninderry knocked Coolum's head clean off with his club ... and it fell into the sea ... becoming Mudjimba Island.
Tribe 2: Coolum and Ninderry were neighbouring chiefs. Maroochy lived in Coolum's tribe, but one night Ninderry came and stole her away. It upset Coolum no end and he went in search of his Maroochy (as I guess you would). He snuck into Ninderry's camp and stole her back. Ninderry became enraged and the two tribes had a great war. Ninderry knocked Coolum's head clean off with his club ... and it fell into the sea ... becoming Mudjimba Island.
Both tribes agree: Poor Maroochy went into the mountains and cried a river over the loss of Coolum. The gods were angry with Ninderry and turned him into a rock that faces both Maroochy and Coolum so he'd remember his bad behaviour. Coolum was so lost without the bonnie lass that the gods felt sorry for him and turned him into a great mountain looking over the river from a distance ... I guess they thought that he'd like to see the dark sparkle of her eye in the river. Coolum's mum was distraught and lived her remaining days on Coolum's head ... which is why they also call it Old Woman Island (as well as Mudjimba).
The Glasshouse Mountains have aboriginal legends behind them. That's a much longer one and for another day.
Kit_e
-
Wirrabarra SA, forest with running water
-
Have spent a lot of time in Ceduna over the years, meaning "a place of rest"
-
Don't quote me on this, but I think it was the Wiradjuri people? as they are the original inhabitants of the wagga wagga area. From memory they were the largest tribe in NSW.
Being that Kapooka is so close to Wagga Wagga, and that it was named from the local dialect then that would be my guess. I have racked my brain but I can't say for certain if that was right or not.
Cheers
Evo
Sorry it took me a while to come back to you Evo, but my daughter has been talking to her husband, who is in the ADF. Yes it was the Wiradjuri people (spelling) as he also did time there, as a black man from here, he spoke to the Elders there prior to doing his training.
Regards
Tjupurla
-
Biloela is generally believed to be Aboriginal for 'black or white cockatoo' ......
-
Have spent a lot of time in Ceduna over the years, meaning "a place of rest"
That is correct Cracka, Pitjatjantjarra is one of the several languages that I speak, and Ceduna is in their lands.
Regards
Tjupurla
-
Biloela is generally believed to be Aboriginal for 'black or white cockatoo' ......
I believe it is in Warlipiri, Matjinjatjarra, Wongi, Muntu Muntu and a few others as well, and changes between black and white cockatoo, depending on location.
Tjupurula
-
I lived in Maroochydore for many years. Maroochy means Place of the Black Swan I'm told ... although I never blardy saw even one! As kids we were told of the legends in school. Natural history fascinated me and still does.
Now Maroochy was this beautiful maiden. And two tribes tell her story a little differently, but with the same tragic result.
Tribe 1: Coolum and Ninderry were great warriors and they fought over her. Ninderry knocked Coolum's head clean off with his club ... and it fell into the sea ... becoming Mudjimba Island.
Tribe 2: Coolum and Ninderry were neighbouring chiefs. Maroochy lived in Coolum's tribe, but one night Ninderry came and stole her away. It upset Coolum no end and he went in search of his Maroochy (as I guess you would). He snuck into Ninderry's camp and stole her back. Ninderry became enraged and the two tribes had a great war. Ninderry knocked Coolum's head clean off with his club ... and it fell into the sea ... becoming Mudjimba Island.
Both tribes agree: Poor Maroochy went into the mountains and cried a river over the loss of Coolum. The gods were angry with Ninderry and turned him into a rock that faces both Maroochy and Coolum so he'd remember his bad behaviour. Coolum was so lost without the bonnie lass that the gods felt sorry for him and turned him into a great mountain looking over the river from a distance ... I guess they thought that he'd like to see the dark sparkle of her eye in the river. Coolum's mum was distraught and lived her remaining days on Coolum's head ... which is why they also call it Old Woman Island (as well as Mudjimba).
The Glasshouse Mountains have aboriginal legends behind them. That's a much longer one and for another day.
Kit_e
May I have your consent to share that Dreaming with my grandchildren. I am sure they would love to hear how some places were formed in country other than their own.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
I grew up Maroubra NSW 2035
Aboriginal meaning thunder or windy place!
That's all I know about it for now!
-
May I have your consent to share that Dreaming with my grandchildren. I am sure they would love to hear how some places were formed in country other than their own.
Regards
Tjupurula
You don't need my consent TJ ... I'm a white sheila so the story doesn't belong to me ... and it's freely available for all to share off the internet. ;) I'll bet your grandkids would love it, so do share it with them! I googled the legend of the Glasshouse Mountains (http://www.glasshousecountry.com.au/legend.htm) for you too ... they'd love that one.
Kit_e
-
No....Upper Swan in Perth is not an Aboriginal name, and hopefully it does not mean what it sounds like either...poor swan.
Tjupurla
A little OT but I do remember pissing myself laughing at a classified I read in the local paper a few years ago where it read "Lost horse found Upper Swan".... Must have been one friggin huge swan...
-
What great topics you start.... How many of us would have no idea about the names and what they mean. Hey, you staying in at home still or .....
-
I live in Berowra which is reported to mean 'Place of many winds'
Next suburb up is Cowan 'Big Water or The Big Water'
Great topic
-
What great topics you start.... How many of us would have no idea about the names and what they mean. Hey, you staying in at home still or .....
Hey Steve, your home town of Broome has a traditional Bardi name, so when are you ging to find out what it is and what it means ? I already know.
Incidentally, the nurses are basically going day by day with my health, so I cannot answer that quetion. I know if it comes to the worst, I am going to end my life in country, not in some town or city.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
I grew up Maroubra NSW 2035
Aboriginal meaning thunder or windy place!
That's all I know about it for now!
I love that answer Wuzgonna, "Aboriginal meaning". There are actually over 1500 Aboriginal languages in Australia, but I will do my best through KALRC (Kimberley Aboriginal Language Resource Centre) to find out which language.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
Landgate has a good listing of WA town/suburb name and their history...
http://www.landgate.wa.gov.au/corporate.nsf/web/History+of+metropolitan+suburb+names (http://www.landgate.wa.gov.au/corporate.nsf/web/History+of+metropolitan+suburb+names)
http://www.landgate.wa.gov.au/corporate.nsf/web/History+of+Country+Town+Names (http://www.landgate.wa.gov.au/corporate.nsf/web/History+of+Country+Town+Names)
-
Hey Steve, your home town of Broome has a traditional Bardi name, so when are you ging to find out what it is and what it means ? I already know.
Incidentally, the nurses are basically going day by day with my health, so I cannot answer that quetion. I know if it comes to the worst, I am going to end my life in country, not in some town or city.
Regards
Tjupurula
Mate, you can just stick around thanks... I'm going to get that answer tomorrow then. I did know that it was Bardi but never thought to ask what it meant - I know, bad form. I will in the morning at work.
-
Landgate has a good listing of WA town/suburb name and their history...
http://www.landgate.wa.gov.au/corporate.nsf/web/History+of+metropolitan+suburb+names (http://www.landgate.wa.gov.au/corporate.nsf/web/History+of+metropolitan+suburb+names)
http://www.landgate.wa.gov.au/corporate.nsf/web/History+of+Country+Town+Names (http://www.landgate.wa.gov.au/corporate.nsf/web/History+of+Country+Town+Names)
Fair call Hogie, just been to the sites, and I have spotted 7 already that are incorrect. All too often people that are assumed to be "custodians" are asked, and they often come up with something that sounds good, but irrelevant to the area. We (Walmajarri people) got upset when it was printed that Kurrurrungku (tribal name for Billiluna) meant "end of track" referring to the CSR. It actually means Wallaby, nothing more and nothing less.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
Fair call Hogie, just been to the sites, and I have spotted 7 already that are incorrect. All too often people that are assumed to be "custodians" are asked, and they often come up with something that sounds good, but irrlevant to the area. We (Walmajarri people) got upset when igt was printed that Kurrurrungku (tribal name for Billiluna) meant "end of track" referring to the CSR. It actually means Wallaby, nothing more and nothing less.
Regards
Tjupurula
Thanks for the info Tjupurula, just goes to show that you can't always rely one he information that's out there.
-
Close to the QLD and NSW border is Murwillumbah " Place of many possums " or " good camp site ' being two meanings that was gained from the Bundjalung people of the area .
A link for you to look at TJ http://landrightslstephens.blogspot.com.au/p/kingsclifffingalmurwillumbah-tweed.html (http://landrightslstephens.blogspot.com.au/p/kingsclifffingalmurwillumbah-tweed.html)
-
Close to the QLD and NSW border is Murwillumbah " Place of many possums " or " good camp site ' being two meanings that was gained from the Bundjalung people of the area .
I wouldn't be too concerned about that too much edz. Many words in many languages have different meanings, and often what we (men) call a place has a different name to the women. This is intentional, as we give places women's areas a name to let us know that it is a "no go" area for us, and the same for the women.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
I grew up in the Mallee in SA and went to school at " Karoonda " which means " winter camp "
-
There must be thousands upon thousands of towns with Aboriginal names Australia wide. Here are some according to Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Australian_place_names_of_Aboriginal_origin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Australian_place_names_of_Aboriginal_origin)
If you're in my neck of the woods and you're heading out to the Hunter Valley vineyards, you'll come across Kurri Kurri (meaning the first or the beginning), Nulkaba, Congewai, Laguna(unfortunately I don't know the meaning of these) and Wollombi (which means meeting place of the waters).
I grew up in Alyangula on Groote Eylandt, NT. I know Alyangula is from the Anindilyakwa language, but I don't know the meaning of it (I probably did at some stage, but the old memory isn't what it used to be :-[)
I would love to hear from anyone who does know it's meaning. Anyone up there at the moment ???
Cheers
Karen
-
Close to the QLD and NSW border is Murwillumbah " Place of many possums " or " good camp site ' being two meanings that was gained from the Bundjalung people of the area .
A link for you to look at TJ http://landrightslstephens.blogspot.com.au/p/kingsclifffingalmurwillumbah-tweed.html (http://landrightslstephens.blogspot.com.au/p/kingsclifffingalmurwillumbah-tweed.html)
Having met quite a few Bundjalung people in a massive meeting several years ago, I had been told about a lot of what is in that link. Thankyou for the wonderful memories that you brought beck for me Edz.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
Hi Karen
The curent CEO of Mulan spent a long time on Groote Eylandt, and he has nothing but to say about the place. His name is Stewart, he has a South African wife, and five chjildren that have had no problems mixing with the kids here. I do not undestand the languages from that area, so cannot help with any definitions there.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
As I expected, there are a lot of placves which have "water" and "meeting" definitions. Naturally tiowns and settlements would not have survived without the presence of water, and traditionally meetings would never happen unless there was a relaible source of water nearby, it is the most important thing to anyones existence.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
There is, I have found out, a suburb of Perth called Mullaloo, which is the nme we have for a boy who is going to be initiated into manhood.
Tjupurula
-
You don't need my consent TJ ... I'm a white sheila so the story doesn't belong to me ... and it's freely available for all to share off the internet. ;) I'll bet your grandkids would love it, so do share it with them! I googled the legend of the Glasshouse Mountains (http://www.glasshousecountry.com.au/legend.htm) for you too ... they'd love that one.
Kit_e
You may be a white shiela (to use your words), but you were stillkind enough to share what you had learned. I would not pretend to have known that Dreaming before you shared it, so I have no problems telling my grandcildren that a woman on tyhe computer site shared this Dreaming with me. I believe therefore to tell them such I should have your consent.
Obviously it is not your Dreaming, but you are Australian, therefore I see it as part of your culture too.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
Don't quote me on this, but I think it was the Wiradjuri people? as they are the original inhabitants of the wagga wagga area. From memory they were the largest tribe in NSW.
Being that Kapooka is so close to Wagga Wagga, and that it was named from the local dialect then that would be my guess. I have racked my brain but I can't say for certain if that was right or not.
Cheers
Evo
Would that be Wurrundjeri, which are the people from Melbourne or is it another group with a similar name?
No maybe not.
We are in the electorate of jagajaga which is named after three principal elders who signed a treaty with John Batman for some land.
-
Would that be Wurrundjeri, which are the people from Melbourne or is it another group with a similar name?
No maybe not.
We are in the electorate of jagajaga which is named after three principal elders who signed a treaty with John Batman for some land.
Hi Wayne
The Wiradjuri people and the Wurrundjeri people are two different tribes, and your history regarding the Elders and John Batman is quite accurate, I had to check that through a black fella website though. The actual families are apparently interlinked through tribal promises (arranged marriages years ago), but that again is not uncommon, we are linked with the Warlpiri in the NT and the Pitjatjantjara people in Sa the same way, and here we are in the Tanami / Great Sandy Deserts.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
I had to check that through a black fella website though
Hi Tjupurula
Are you able to share that website with us? I am interested to learn more.
KB
-
Good morning Tjupurula,
I grow up as a kid in Ballina, And believe it or not, the Nuns at primary school( St Francis Xavier) taught us where the word came from and about the local Bundjalung people.
When I saw your thread, I said I know where the town I grow up got it's name.
Here is a quote from Wikipedia of the origins of the Name Ballina.
Some believe it was named directly after the Irish town of Ballina, although a more likely source is a Bundjalung word, "bullinah", meaning "place of many oysters". One possibility is that the Aboriginal name reminded the predominantly Irish settlers of "Ballina", so the name's origin could be an accidental or deliberate corruption of the Aboriginal form.
Then again in high school( Marist Brothers 1982) in Lismore, we visited a Bora Ring at Tucki Tucki.
(http://)
We were taught about the Bundjalung people (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundjalung_people) and their culture, their way of life. and their country. My appreciation for the country that I live in has stayed with me over the years and I love exploring and learning about the land where I live.
By the way, a great topic you have started here Tjupurula, Thanks for starting it.
:cup:
-
Noosa means shade or shadows.
The Kabi Kabi tribe belonged to the area stretching from Redcliffe in the south to the Mary River in the north.
I have often imagined what it would have been like exploring the coastline around the Sunshine Coast pre development and white settlement. It must have been amazing.
Cheers Nomad.
-
Hi Tjupurula
Are you able to share that website with us? I am interested to learn more.
KB
Hi KB
I will contact the relevant people, as it is a specific website that tribal communities use to locate each other, and they ask questions such as your language group, your clan and family names, which was all collated quite a few years ago. I guess you would call it a black fella database run by a couple of black fellas in a University, free for community people needing the help, but I will ask and message you if they say yes.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
Many words in many languages have different meanings, and often what we (men) call a place has a different name to the women. This is intentional,
Good example here i guess of one phrase meaning more than one thing?
Tin Can Bay, situated on the western shore of a mainland inlet south of Fraser Island, is 200 km north of central Brisbane. It is thought that the name came from the anglicisation of tin-kun, an Aboriginal expression describing a narrow-leafed coastal vine, or of similar sounding expressions meaning dugong, big fish or mangroves.
-
Good example here i guess of one phrase meaning more than one thing?
Tin Can Bay, situated on the western shore of a mainland inlet south of Fraser Island, is 200 km north of central Brisbane. It is thought that the name came from the anglicisation of tin-kun, an Aboriginal expression describing a narrow-leafed coastal vine, or of similar sounding expressions meaning dugong, big fish or mangroves.
Oh how right you are Jeepers. There are so many words, places and names that seem to be adaptations of English words, in both directions. Our word for white people is gardia, and it seems to have come from "Guardian", where there was guardian for all black people, called the Protector of Native Affairs. The job was better known for taking fair skinned kids away to be "humanised" (given religion and made to wear clothes and shoes), and "controlled", which meant being locked upo until the blac fella did what he was told. I am not being negative, it is just how things were.
The amount of English and Irish family names in communities is astounding.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
Good morning Tjupurula,
I grow up as a kid in Ballina, And believe it or not, the Nuns at primary school( St Francis Xavier) taught us where the word came from and about the local Bundjalung people.
When I saw your thread, I said I know where the town I grow up got it's name.
Here is a quote from Wikipedia of the origins of the Name Ballina.Then again in high school( Marist Brothers 1982) in Lismore, we visited a Bora Ring at Tucki Tucki.
(http://)
We were taught about the Bundjalung people (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundjalung_people) and their culture, their way of life. and their country. My appreciation for the country that I live in has stayed with me over the years and I love exploring and learning about the land where I live.
By the way, a great topic you have started here Tjupurula, Thanks for starting it.
:cup:
Oh yes, the beloved Irish, they have so many Irish surnames in various communities one starts to wonder.
Tjupurula
-
Hi,
Taroona (https://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en&ll=-42.945366,147.351551&spn=0.025414,0.038581&t=h&z=15)
From the name for a local sea shell
(https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR3dHaJQkkaI85BMEe50Q9pv8cPuhAIqwIajkU7CLkjOfSYFSzhRQ)
in the dialect of some Aboriginal Tribes of Tasmania.
Ref: Page II, Taroona 1808-1986. ISBN - 0 - 7316 - 3091 - 2
cheers
-
Hi, not so much an aboriginal name but I grew up on a property near a place that has huge aboriginal significance to the Kamilaroi people. The place is call Terry Hie Hie (near Moree in northern NSW) where there was a Corroboree ground and rocks with grinding grooves in them where I would say tools were sharpened. When I was young the ground was called a bora ring though I do not know if this is correct and I cannot confirm this. I believe the area was part of of a land rights claim and is managed by the local people. It is declared an "Aboriginal Place"
Interestingly when I grew up there were no aboriginal people in the local area, they had been moved to Moree many years before.
Closer to where I lived was the site of a very sad piece of Australia's history http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterloo_Creek_massacre (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterloo_Creek_massacre) and it is interesting that no aboriginal people will live in that area. It is known locally as Slaughterhouse Creek which was about 5 K's from our house as the crow flies and I crossed the creek every day going to school.
The closest town that I knew of with an Aboriginal name was Warialda which means "Place of wild honey"
-
I grew up in a place called Budgewoi but apparently that wasn't its original spelling. I have copied below some info from wikipedia
Some sources give the original name as Pudgeway (Aboriginal term for young grass) but this is open to conjecture with local historian (Bruce Russell, "From Pudgeway to Budgewoi", 1984) stating the aboriginal name for the area as Budjeri, which meant "good conditions" and described the abundance of wallabies, birds, fish, prawns, trees, shrubs and plants they could use to sustain a healthy tribe. The early colonists named the area Pudgewoy but over the years it has been know by many other names: Budgeway, Possum's Fence, Sinking, Sandy Point, Halekulani and the present name of Budgewoi which was made official in July 1978.
-
I grew up in Millmerran which means lookout. Strange given the town and it's surrounds are fairly flat! Have since learned it is because of a nearby mountain which was used as lookout
Cheers Shaun
-
Found a new non stressfull job for yourself now TJ " Communictor and Educator " thanks for sharing the knowledge everyone ..
-
Thought I'd google Caloundra. Ended up with various different meanings, but did find this though about the Sunshine Coast.
http://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/library/documents/heritage/sunshine_coast_place_name_origins.pdf (http://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/library/documents/heritage/sunshine_coast_place_name_origins.pdf)
Shane.
-
My contribution for Ningi just 2mins away. ;D
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ningi,_Queensland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ningi,_Queensland)
Foo
-
I spent time living at
Pinnaroo, which according to Wikipedia "The town's name is derived from "big man" in a local Aboriginal language"
Naracoorte, which according to Wikipedia " is believed to be derived from the Aboriginal words for place of running water or large waterhole."
-
Found a new non stressfull job for yourself now TJ " Communictor and Educator " thanks for sharing the knowledge everyone ..
I am going to have to disagree there Edz, I am not an Educator by any means, I have learned more from this thread than you could believe. As far as communicating goes, I am thankful for spell check and the like, as I have two screens operating, Wiord and MySwag. Sometimes I forget, and type straight in, and there are some shocking typo's that I do not pick up on.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
Thought I'd google Caloundra. Ended up with various different meanings, but did find this though about the Sunshine Coast.
http://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/library/documents/heritage/sunshine_coast_place_name_origins.pdf (http://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/library/documents/heritage/sunshine_coast_place_name_origins.pdf)
Shane.
That does not surprise me Shane, as I hav googled many of the names given me in the thread, and the diversity of definitions are nothing short of amazing. Even some of the places where I know the actual definition, as it is my natural language, there have been multiple definitions, and none of them have been correct. Then I find out from further searching where they got the definition from, and the tribe had nothing to do with the Walmajarri people, which is kind of sad really. I feel that because people travelling through will not learn the actual truth as seen by the correct people.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
Can you tell me, Tjupurula if this is true.
A fair share of the towns south of Perth end in the letters "up", Ive been told it means "by water".
Is this correct
Wayne
-
Can you tell me, Tjupurula if this is true.
A fair share of the towns south of Perth end in the letters "up", Ive been told it means "by water".
Is this correct
Wayne
I am a Walmajarri man, they are from the Nyoongar Tribe fr the most part, but frm what I have been told a few minutes ago, that is quite accurate. We have two Nyoongars living here with their Walmajarri wives, and they have both verified this fact. Sadly enough thy also told me that there are no full language speakers left for their language, they have half language and half English now.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
Thanks for that.
My wife is from Sydney and Ive been asked many a time by relatives and friends from east why the towns end in up.
At least I now know I wasnt just spinning a yarn.
-
Before moving to Ballina, we lived in Moe, which was derived from the kurnai word for "swamp land" also worked in Yallourn open cut coal mine, Yallourn was derived from two names Yalleen meaning brown and Lourn meaning fire,
cheers Andy
-
TJ - not to hijack the thread - but I saw on Twitter a few days ago there is supposedly a mob in central Australia who shake penises when they great. Sounds a bit far fetched - but is it true at all?
Cheers, Paul
-
My favourite is Widgiemooltha. Many people don't believe it exists. We've stopped at the road house many times on our travels. The name comes from the Noongar people, the traditional custodians of the south west region, and is supposed to be either the name of a nearby hill and rock hole or the beak of an emu.
Another interesting thing (to me anyway) is in the Noongar language, the 'up' or 'in' ending of the many towns and places in WA means 'place of' depending on the dialect.
-
Good to see your back on the forum and the health's problems under control Tjupurula, here's
a couple of town name's that have an Aboriginal name that come from the Bunurong tribe area.
Lang-Lang, means "Clump of tree's"
Koo-wee-rup means "Blackfish"
-
I googled your tribe and Walmajarri has a lot of dialects.
-
Koo-wee-rup means "Blackfish"
Hey, I saw Koo-wee-rup on the back of two b-doubles up this way today. Small world!!
KB
-
I live in the NT and work with Pilots. As most communities have an Indigenous and English name. Pilots only work off the English name. Its always lots of fun giving them the Indigenous name and see the look on their faces!
On another note if the community has a "G" as the second letter you dont pronounce it. Eg Ngukurr is pronounced Nukurr
-
I googled your tribe and Walmajarri has a lot of dialects.
Is this the google entry you are talking about:-
Walmajarri, Walmatjarri, Walmatjari, Walmadjari, Walmatjiri, Walmajiri, Walmatjeri, Walmadjeri, Walmadyeri, Walmaharri, Wolmeri, Wolmera, Wulmari
Bililuna, Pililuna
Jiwarliny, Juwaliny, Tjiwaling, Tjiwarlin
Communities with a Walmajarri population are:
Bayulu
Djugerari (Cherrabun)
Junjuwa (Fitzroy Crossing)
Looma
Millijidee
Mindibungu (Bililuna)
Mindi Rardi (Fitzroy Crossing)
Mulan
Ngumpan
Wangkajungka (Christmas Creek)
Yakanarra
Yungngora
The Walmajarri people used to live in the Great Sandy Desert. Subsequent events took them to the cattle stations, towns and missions in the North and scattered them over a wide area. The geographical distance accounts for the fact that there are several dialects, which have been further polarized by the lack of contact and further influenced by neighbouring languages. We are probbly a couple of teh major family groups who chose to sty in the desert, and look aftr the sacred water (LakeGregory) for all time.
To answer the obvious question, yes I speak and understand all the dialects of my language, as well as sevral other totally differentlanguages, such as Martu, Gija, Kukutja, Pintupi, Warlpiri, Pitjatjantara, Matjantjara, Wongi and a few others, but that i not uncommon amongst our people to speak a variety of tribal languages.
There are 1500 actual languages, but if you want to include dialects, then you would count more than 6,000 languages all together. My grandchildren spoke Walmajarri, Kukutja, and Pintupi before they started school to learn English. Walmajarri and Kukutja are the main languages here, and Pintupi goes from here, across Lake Mackay to Kiwirrkurra.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
Hey, I saw Koo-wee-rup on the back of two b-doubles up this way today. Small world!!
KB
KITCO, Townley Haulage black & orange trucks .
KITCO aussie for K oo-wee-rup, I nterstate, T ransport Co.
-
I live in the NT and work with Pilots. As most communities have an Indigenous and English name. Pilots only work off the English name. Its always lots of fun giving them the Indigenous name and see the look on their faces!
On another note if the community has a "G" as the second letter you dont pronounce it. Eg Ngukurr is pronounced Nukurr
Quite correct PB. My skin name is actually Tjupurula, but the T is not pronounced at all either, we also have the Ng words where the G is not pronounced a all, it is just how the word is said that makes it obvious there is another letter there somewhere.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
Yeah mate, thats the one.
-
Looking up at Kunanyi, Hobart. Been known as Mt Wellington for the past 200 years.
Just moved from Benalla (Benalta ) which I'm told is a musk duck in local indigenous language.
This is an interesting link:
http://www.albury.net.au/~tim/chdoma10.htm (http://www.albury.net.au/~tim/chdoma10.htm)
But doesn't tell me what "mahaikah" means, which is what the school at Tolmie where I went to primary school was called.
Great thread.
-
Hi Mace
Hopefully a thread like this will give the MySwag family another interest when they are travelling, to find out if the various locations have a black fella name and what it means, or why it was given such a name to start with. You may be surprised ho much more people can learn about this beautiful country by doing that.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
TJ - not to hijack the thread - but I saw on Twitter a few days ago there is supposedly a mob in central Australia who shake penises when they great. Sounds a bit far fetched - but is it true at all?
Cheers, Paul
There would be no truth in that at all. I do not understand why people have to come out with stuff like that. In all tribes, womens privates and mens privates are not discussed or shown publicly at all. Anyone wo has been to a community would notice that grown people keep their bodies quite well covered.
Regards
Tjupuula
-
There would be no truth in that at all. I do not understand why people have to come out with stuff like that. In all tribes, womens privates and mens privates are not discussed or shown publicly at all. Anyone wo has been to a community would notice that grown people keep their bodies quite well covered.
Regards
Tjupuula
Thanks for clearing that up - now let's get back to the thread........
-
My favourite is Widgiemooltha. Many people don't believe it exists. We've stopped at the road house many times on our travels. The name comes from the Noongar people, the traditional custodians of the south west region, and is supposed to be either the name of a nearby hill and rock hole or the beak of an emu.
Another interesting thing (to me anyway) is in the Noongar language, the 'up' or 'in' ending of the many towns and places in WA means 'place of' depending on the dialect.
Actually, places ending in "in" mean place of, where places end in "up" refer to the nearby water. A couple of Nyoongars here have informed me of that.
Tjupurula
-
Anyone wo has been to a community would notice that grown people keep their bodies quite well covered.
Regards
Tjupuula
Except for when they are ready for a fight. Don't know about your way, but over here when someone is ready for a fight they take their top off (male or female) and if they are really cranky they take all the clothes off. Having said that, in 5 years I have only seen 2 naked bods
Cheers
John
-
I was born in Wagga Wagga which I understood to be "Place of many Crows". I am currently working with the Yalanji people in Far North Queensland who taught me that any name said twice means plural. Therefore, more than one Crow would be said twice. Same goes for Wujal Wujal, meaning waterfalls instead of one. I was disappointed to grow up in Wagga with everyone asking why they say it twice and never to know this about Aboriginal language. In fact I did Australian History all the way through high school and the ignorant teachers thought Australian history started in 1788. At least now I am surrounded by some outstanding Indigenous people who are forever sharing great parts of their culture.
-
Actually, places ending in "in" mean place of, where places end in "up" refer to the nearby water. A couple of Nyoongars here have informed me of that.
Tjupurula
Thanks for the info. People from that country that I've talked to in the past have told me that it is Noongar. I'm not saying you're wrong by any stretch, just pointing out the info I was given.
Cheers
Shane
-
Thanks for the info. People from that country that I've talked to in the past have told me that it is Noongar. I'm not saying you're wrong by any stretch, just pointing out the info I was given.
Cheers
Shane
It is pronounced Noongar, another case of a silent letter in there.
Tjupurula
-
Except for when they are ready for a fight. Don't know about your way, but over here when someone is ready for a fight they take their top off (male or female) and if they are really cranky they take all the clothes off. Having said that, in 5 years I have only seen 2 naked bods
Cheers
John
Yes, I saw that recently in Alice Springs. Not the nicest sight by any means, and they were more than slightly intoxicated, a disgrace to teh Aboriginal race.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
I was born in Wagga Wagga which I understood to be "Place of many Crows". I am currently working with the Yalanji people in Far North Queensland who taught me that any name said twice means plural. Therefore, more than one Crow would be said twice. Same goes for Wujal Wujal, meaning waterfalls instead of one. I was disappointed to grow up in Wagga with everyone asking why they say it twice and never to know this about Aboriginal language. In fact I did Australian History all the way through high school and the ignorant teachers thought Australian history started in 1788. At least now I am surrounded by some outstanding Indigenous people who are forever sharing great parts of their culture.
In 1788 a new chapter in Australian history started, some not so good, and some great. I personally believe that the fat that this country has become so cosmopolitan is fantastic. The skills that have come in, especially medically, means that the average tribal life has increaed in length, as well as the wonderful skills that now allow me to communicate all over Australia from my house in the desert.
Enjoy yourself with the people there, and hopefully learn from them, and share your knowledge with them as well.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
I am from Bundaberg originally and believe this is made up from Bunda after the local people and berg being English / German for town.
The below is copied from Wikipedia and as such can not validate, but is generally in line with discussions with some of the locals that I was lucky enough to work with for years.
Tha first white man to visit the region was James Davis an escaped convict from the Moreton Bay Penal settlement in 1830. Davis was referred to as Durrumboi by the local Kabi people. (Rev Dunmore Lang 1861, William Ridley 1866). Another man named Alfred Dale Edwards was adopted into the Kalkie speaking clan Yongkonu (Thyeebalang Roth 1910, Archibald Meston 1892) and was given the moiety name Bunda which was part of the four class matrilineal (female descent) moiety system used by the Kabi people whose territory spread from the Caboolture river in the south to the Kolan river in the north. The Kabi moiety names were Balgoin, Barang, Bunda, Derwain and Tandor (Durrumboi in Ridley 1866), the phratry names were Kupaiathin and Dilbai. Gooreng (Gurang) and Wakka inland or wa'pa (slow speech) utilised the moiety name Banjurr in Balgoin's stead (Mathew 1910). Bunda was not a clan sub-tribe or tribe only one of the moiety names ( Dr T H May 1892 Brisbane Courier). Kabi headquarters is in Bundaberg (Kamarangan 2012). The boundary between the Wahr and Kalkie peoples of the Kabi tribe is the Burnett River. The six dialects spoken were Nhulla, Cabbee, Kalkie, Wahr, Gubbi and Karbi (Batjala) as cited by Curr 1886 and Meston 1901. Durumboi referred to the Kabi as the Dippil people.
-
Thanks for that Garfish. It cnfirmed fio me something that I hd known about for years, but could never find triubes where the female lineage was closely followed, learning that has given my wife some satisfaction. Our skin law system is usually patromonial (spelling - male dominated), but that can lead to family clashes, so there had to b the alternative in other places.
My grandchildren will be fascinated by the mening of "Berg", as they often get into n atlas, it will give them another rerason to travel into Europe in the atlas and find towns ending in "berg".
Regards
Tjupurula
-
Parramatta, in western Sydney
Quote from wiki
" The Darug people who lived in the area for many generations regarded the area as rich in food from the river and forests. They called the area Baramada or Burramatta ('Parramatta') which means "head of waters" "the place where the eels lie down", or "eel waters"
Not really an Aboriginal name but some interesting history i learned in high school. The western Sydney suburb of BLACKTOWN was originally called Blacks Town. Because of racial divisions in early settlement, the government set a village "over ther hill" from the original Farm Cove and Sydney settlement in now what is known as DOUBLE BAY, for the Aboriginal persons who helped with the settlement, so when the free settlers arrived they wouldnt "see the natives" As Sydney grew, the government needed this space back, so shifted the Aboriginals to a space between the Parramatta and Hawkesbury settlements as it was fairly central. This areas was dubbed "Blacks Town" in the early 1800's, as this is where the government had decided to help the Aboriginal childeren by relocating their school from Parramatta, hence promoting " cultural" blending.
Tjupurula, Im most appologetic if that little bit of history is offensive to you and your culture. I will remove it if you wish.
My family move from the U.k in 1979, and I lived in the blacktown area for 30 years. I am 37,and I have always been facinated with the history of australia, and try to learn as much as possible about where I live.
I enjoy reading this topic you have started,as it give a sort of history lesson, as well as teach a bit of linguistics (the meaning and origin of words).
Cheers
Roger
-
Parramatta, in western Sydney
Quote from wiki
" The Darug people who lived in the area for many generations regarded the area as rich in food from the river and forests. They called the area Baramada or Burramatta ('Parramatta') which means "head of waters" "the place where the eels lie down", or "eel waters"
Not really an Aboriginal name but some interesting history i learned in high school. The western Sydney suburb of BLACKTOWN was originally called Blacks Town. Because of racial divisions in early settlement, the government set a village "over ther hill" from the original Farm Cove and Sydney settlement in now what is known as DOUBLE BAY, for the Aboriginal persons who helped with the settlement, so when the free settlers arrived they wouldnt "see the natives" As Sydney grew, the government needed this space back, so shifted the Aboriginals to a space between the Parramatta and Hawkesbury settlements as it was fairly central. This areas was dubbed "Blacks Town" in the early 1800's, as this is where the government had decided to help the Aboriginal childeren by relocating their school from Parramatta, hence promoting " cultural" blending.
Tjupurula, Im most appologetic if that little bit of history is offensive to you and your culture. I will remove it if you wish.
My family move from the U.k in 1979, and I lived in the blacktown area for 30 years. I am 37,and I have always been facinated with the history of australia, and try to learn as much as possible about where I live.
I enjoy reading this topic you have started,as it give a sort of history lesson, as well as teach a bit of linguistics (the meaning and origin of words).
Cheers
Roger
Not offensive at all Roger, history is just that, history. The fact is that the majority of the people whpo lived in the area at some stage were black, hence the name came about, Blacktown. It is nic to learn the background of places, and back then people tried to keep things simple. Apparently a lot of cities have a Chinatown, where people can eat and find oriental items to buy, good geographynin my books.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
A bit off topic but following on from the Blacktown comments. Many cities and towns have a Boundary Street or Road. In Brisbane, these roads, there is more than one suburb with a Boundary Street/Road, were the boundaries or limits for Aborigines. They couldn't come any closer into the main town.
A year or so ago, the local Aboriginal Community had a celebration, and as part of the celebration, they marched down Boundary Street West End, as it held such significance for them.
Sorry back to the topic.
KB
-
A bit off topic but following on from the Blacktown comments. Many cities and towns have a Boundary Street or Road. In Brisbane, these roads, there is more than one suburb with a Boundary Street/Road, were the boundaries or limits for Aborigines. They couldn't come any closer into the main town.
A year or so ago, the local Aboriginal Community had a celebration, and as part of the celebration, they marched down Boundary Street West End, as it held such significance for them.
Sorry back to the topic.
KB
Hi KB
I cannot speak for the Eastern States, never been there, but I know that was the case here. I held a pass under the Flora and Fauna Act which allowed me in town after sunset for 2 hours, and could not go past Boundary Street and North Street, if I went any closer than that to town, I would have been automatically imprisoned for 7 days, and would have lost my rations for 14 days. We didn't get paid any money back then (70's), we received flour, tinned beef, tea and sugar as our rations for working, as we were considered as too child-like in mentality to understand money.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
Hi KB
I cannot speak for the Eastern States, never been there, but I know that was the case here. I held a pass under the Flora and Fauna Act which allowed me in town after sunset for 2 hours, and could not go past Boundary Street and North Street, if I went any closer than that to town, I would have been automatically imprisoned for 7 days, and would have lost my rations for 14 days. We didn't get paid any money back then (70's), we received flour, tinned beef, tea and sugar as our rations for working, as we were considered as too child-like in mentality to understand money.
Regards
Tjupurula
That is hideous that that happened and only a short time ago Tjupurula. I was only in my teens back then and could never understand that treatment then. :(
Foo
-
That is hideous that that happened and only a short time ago Tjupurula. I was only in my teens back then and could never understand that treatment then. :(
Foo
It has never worried me Foo, it is something that occurred in the past, and if I dwell on something like that, I would be denying my children and grandchildren the future that is rightfully theirs. The current Federal Govenment has paid out a lot of compensation monie to people who were working and denied wages, but I have not claimed, as I do not believe that the taxpayers today should pay for what happened 40 years ago.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
My old man (RIP) use to tell us.....
If you can change it, then whinging about it do it and do it now.
If ya can't change it, deal with it and move on and don't look back.
To be fair, its easier said then done, but its a good rule of thumb to work with.
It would appear Tjupurula, you have a similar attitude to life and good on ya for it.
-
It has never worried me Foo, it is something that occurred in the past, and if I dwell on something like that, I would be denying my children and grandchildren the future that is rightfully theirs. The current Federal Govenment has paid out a lot of compensation monie to people who were working and denied wages, but I have not claimed, as I do not believe that the taxpayers today should pay for what happened 40 years ago.
Regards
Tjupurula
My feelings also but I guess that's easy for me to say, as it was not me or my family affected. I take my hate off to you Tjupurula, you have the right attitude for moving on in a positive way, I only wish that the ones causing so much angst now would. I can't change the past and what happened, but by dwelling on the past, it won't make the future any better. You have my respect Tjupurula. :cup:
Foo
-
On another note if the community has a "G" as the second letter you dont pronounce it. Eg Ngukurr is pronounced Nukurr
It must be a commonality across Australia.
My hubby has done some work with an Indigenous group here near Wollombi who run education programs and tours to the local Aboriginal sites.
The organisation is 'Ngurra' Bu, and the Ngurra part is pronounced 'Noora'.
http://www.ngurrabu.org/ (http://www.ngurrabu.org/)
-
I grew up in a town on the south coast of NSW called Ulladulla meaning safe harbour
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
-
I grew up in a town on the south coast of NSW called Ulladulla meaning safe harbour
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Thankyou Noughts for bringing the thread back on topic, now I hope it stays there.
Tjupurula
-
I live in the Kurnai Tribal area (east of Melbourne in Gippsland).
The town name is Traralgon which is river of little fishes.
Regards
Crispy
-
My old man (RIP) use to tell us.....
If you can change it, then whinging about it do it and do it now.
If ya can't change it, deal with it and move on and don't look back.
To be fair, its easier said then done, but its a good rule of thumb to work with.
It would appear Tjupurula, you have a similar attitude to life and good on ya for it.
Hi Jeepers
Actually my outllook on life is a lot simpler, I treat others as I wish to be treated. Even people who seem to have extreme difficulty with the colour of my skin, I simply reply that my blood is the same colour as theirs, and I walk away, refusing to get into an argument. I am not a violent person, whether that be verbally, physically, psychologically or emotionally....I dislike any form of aggression. If that makes me a wimp, so be it, but I am a very large wimp.
Now back to the topic please.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
Hi TJ, I live in Jerrabomberra in NSW which is situated near the ACT order and is part of southern Queanbeyan. The aboriginal meaning for Jerrabomberra is "boy frightened by storm". and is pronounced Jerabombra, it can be a tongue twister for those who have trouble with those types of names.
Trevor
-
I've been told that both Goolma and Gulgong are derived from Wiradjuri words roughly meaning "Endless Waterhole". There are certainly plenty of spring fed creeks around that no one living has ever seen dry in both areas.
I believe there is some contention around the meaning of Dubbo. I've heard that is is a mispronounced Aboriginal word "Thubbo", but two theories I've heard that it is either "Red Earth" after the colour of the soil or "Head-covering" as the house of the first settler may have looked like a hat. I was told both by the same elder in Dubbo.
Mudgee I think has something to do with a resting or nesting place in the hills.
-
Hi TJ, I live in Jerrabomberra in NSW which is situated near the ACT order and is part of southern Queanbeyan. The aboriginal meaning for Jerrabomberra is "boy frightened by storm". and is pronounced Jerabombra, it can be a tongue twister for those who have trouble with those types of names.
Trevor
No problems for me saying that one, but then I have a black fella tongue. (Jeepers Creepers, leave that comment alone.)
Regards
Tjupurula
-
I've been told that both Goolma and Gulgong are derived from Wiradjuri words roughly meaning "Endless Waterhole". There are certainly plenty of spring fed creeks around that no one living has ever seen dry in both areas.
I believe there is some contention around the meaning of Dubbo. I've heard that is is a mispronounced Aboriginal word "Thubbo", but two theories I've heard that it is either "Red Earth" after the colour of the soil or "Head-covering" as the house of the first settler may have looked like a hat. I was told both by the same elder in Dubbo.
Mudgee I think has something to do with a resting or nesting place in the hills.
Hi JohnyD
I cannot help much there, as I am not familiar with the area, and I am certain (but could be wrong) that these says most bigger places have some kind of factual history available. I have only found that out in the last couple of days though, so I do not know if it is true.
Regards
Tjupurla
-
My home town Yamba... I was always taught it was headland reasoning and can't say I've ever seen oysters the size of my hand...know a few yaegl words from the local boys...
There are two theories as to the meaning of Yamba, one being that it is the local Aboriginal word for "headland". However, J.S. Ryan, following R.L. Dawson's early Recollections and Records of the Clarence Aborigines, believes the most likely derivation is an Aboriginal word yumbah meaning a rough edible shellfish the size of a man's hand that clings to rocks and is similar to an oyster.
Aboriginal Culture
The Yaegl and Bundjalung people are traditional custodians of the coastal areas around Yamba, Iluka and Maclean. The ancestors of the present day Yaegl people lived around the mouth of the Clarence River and spoke the language Yaygirr. This language was closely related to Gumbaynggirr. There is evidence the Yaygirr had permanent settlements and a developed material culture. Matthew Flinders (1799) described large bark huts with rounded passageway entrances which protect dwellers from wind and rain. Similarly Captain Perry (1839) described canoes of a superior construction.
-
Hi JohnyD
I cannot help much there, as I am not familiar with the area, and I am certain (but could be wrong) that these says most bigger places have some kind of factual history available. I have only found that out in the last couple of days though, so I do not know if it is true.
Regards
Tjupurla
I was told all of them by locals that can speak and teach Wiradjuri and found them in records. I was looking into learning it at the time as I thought it could be useful if I decided to stay in the area and teach in schools. Curiosity got the better of me and I didn't think I'd find anyone much more knowledgeable about it all.
-
My home town Yamba... I was always taught it was headland reasoning and can't say I've ever seen oysters the size of my hand...know a few yaegl words from the local boys...
There are two theories as to the meaning of Yamba, one being that it is the local Aboriginal word for "headland". However, J.S. Ryan, following R.L. Dawson's early Recollections and Records of the Clarence Aborigines, believes the most likely derivation is an Aboriginal word yumbah meaning a rough edible shellfish the size of a man's hand that clings to rocks and is similar to an oyster.
Aboriginal Culture
The Yaegl and Bundjalung people are traditional custodians of the coastal areas around Yamba, Iluka and Maclean. The ancestors of the present day Yaegl people lived around the mouth of the Clarence River and spoke the language Yaygirr. This language was closely related to Gumbaynggirr. There is evidence the Yaygirr had permanent settlements and a developed material culture. Matthew Flinders (1799) described large bark huts with rounded passageway entrances which protect dwellers from wind and rain. Similarly Captain Perry (1839) described canoes of a superior construction.
Thankyou so much Flemo, my younget two grankids were totally mesmerised when I told them about that as best I could. They are really enjoying learning about other places and how they got their names from other tribal people.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
I live near Mordialloc, which comes from two words, Mordi and Yalloc, which when put together mean flat water.
I'd say this would be Bunerong, since they are the local people.
-
Hi Swaggers
It would seem that heaps of people have learned the names and their definition, which I reckon is fantastic, and also a lot iof people have also identified the tribal name of the people in their area, and to me that makes this even more fantastic, as my grandkids are learning tribal groups and searching for them on the map identifying tribal areas.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
Here's something else I found, around the local area each town has the yeagl meaning of the town name on the road signs entering town.. bit of explanation about how the river and some features were made as well..http://www.yarrawali.net/?page_id=2 (http://www.yarrawali.net/?page_id=2)
-
They've actually started teach the Darug language in the local schools to try to preserve the language, even though most Sydney residents already know at least half a dozen words. It cracks me up to hear Somali kids speaking the language that some of the "descendants" of the tradition owners don't understand. The hardest part for us while folks is being able to correctly pronounce the words...
-
They've actually started teach the Darug language in the local schools to try to preserve the language, even though most Sydney residents already know at least half a dozen words. It cracks me up to hear Somali kids speaking the language that some of the "descendants" of the tradition owners don't understand. The hardest part for us while folks is being able to correctly pronounce the words...
Ditto Rescue1, as we do not have certain letters in pronounciation that you have, such as Q, Z and X, which makes it extremely difficult to pronounce a lot of words that are in the English language.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
They've actually started teach the Darug language in the local schools to try to preserve the language, even though most Sydney residents already know at least half a dozen words. It cracks me up to hear Somali kids speaking the language that some of the "descendants" of the tradition owners don't understand. The hardest part for us while folks is being able to correctly pronounce the words...
I think that's great. My boys learn language at school as well and considering that 50% of his mates are locals, it's a good thing he does. Gives a good perspective on things.
-
I think that's great. My boys learn language at school as well and considering that 50% of his mates are locals, it's a good thing he does. Gives a good perspective on things.
Still waiing for the definition of your hometown Steve.......th one your were dfinitely getting the other day 8)
Tjupurula
-
The Melbourne suburb of Nunawading is ment to be an indigenous name for meeting place..or battleground. Nice part of the world..so can see why it could be a meeting place.
-
Found another one for you TJ,
Town: Wodonga (border of Vic and NSW)
Meaning: For centuries, the Albury Wodonga area was known as Bungambrawatha, or homeland, by the Wiradjuri people who first settled here. It wasn’t until 1838, when the Assistant Surveyor General decided that Albury sounded more familiar to the settlers’ ears, that the name changed hands. While Wodonga, meaning bulrushes, still retains its indigenous name.
Extra information: As a massive water system in a huge dry land, the Murray was and remains a powerful source of life. Which is why the Wiradjuri were frequently joined by many other hunting groups, from the surrounding mountains and flatlands, who would travel hundreds of kilometres to gather here, establishing an important place for meetings, a tradition that continues to this day.
Speaking many different languages and dialects, they would perform corroboree, initiation and marriage ceremonies, share stories, exchange knowledge and skills, hunt and eat along the banks and around the billabongs of the Murray.
The river and surrounding hills and valleys have preserved the sites and artefacts of this rich ancient life in a living museum. The rock carvings of Yeddonba, just outside of Chiltern, the Duduroa people’s rock painting of the Tasmanian Tiger at Mt Pilot, and Table Top massive, a place believed to be of great spiritual meaning, are just some of the many wonderful experiences to be found.
Ngan Girra Festival
The Wiradjuri people remain strongly linked with Albury Wodonga through the Ngan Girra ( Bogong Moth ) Festival, which celebrates indigenous cultures and commemorates the gathering of their ancestors. Its name and symbol are taken from the ritual of tribes who would, after their meetings and ceremonies, go up into the high country in search of the migrating Bogong Moth.
Burraja. The Journey
The Indigenous Cultural and Environmental Discovery Centre, at the Gateway Village on the banks of the Murray, provides a unique blend of indigenous cultural and environmental experiences that is involving for both adults and children.
Led by professional Aboriginal experts and archaeologists, you are introduced to the cultural inheritance of indigenous peoples of the Upper Murray Valley. Their lifestyle, stone tool technology, bush tucker, archaeology, arts and crafts are all brought together to create a three-dimensional view of how these ancient people lived.
See your land through Aboriginal eyes
Unlike the scars of canoes cut from the bark of gums, which still line the river banks, much of the fascinating evidence of Aboriginal life is not easily seen by untrained eyes. With the help of a Parklands Aboriginal guide and archaeologists you can learn how to look at the land through Aboriginal eyes. They will train you to read the landscape, to see the movement of Aboriginal people through the countryside, hunting and camping sites, and literally follow in the footsteps of this land’s ancestors.
The buried rainforest beneath your feet.
Before the European farmers came and began to control the flow of the Murray, the river ran a much broader, meandering course across the countryside. During heavy rainfalls it flooded vast areas with water and sand. Over time, it even managed to bury an entire forest of Australian cedar under 15 metres of Murray sand. The rare wood no longer exists above ground, but many examples of this well preserved, 40,000-year-old timber can be found beneath your feet.
Link: http://www.alburywodongaaustralia.com.au/AreaInfo/aboriginal.asp (http://www.alburywodongaaustralia.com.au/AreaInfo/aboriginal.asp)
Cheers
Evo
-
Hi Evo
Great article, thankyou very much.
I found the bit about marriage ceremonies a bit strange, as to my knowledge no tribe has ever had marriage ceremonies as such. When a boy becomes a man, he is given a promised wife, and when she is of appropriate learning and age, he is entitled to go to the family and take his wife. To any politically correct person who does not like that idea, I don't care, our ways are as they are.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
You may be a white shiela (to use your words), but you were stillkind enough to share what you had learned. I would not pretend to have known that Dreaming before you shared it, so I have no problems telling my grandcildren that a woman on tyhe computer site shared this Dreaming with me. I believe therefore to tell them such I should have your consent.
Obviously it is not your Dreaming, but you are Australian, therefore I see it as part of your culture too.
Regards
Tjupurula
Hi Tjupurula,
You are an amazing person. I don't post much here but I absolutely love reading your posts and insights. You have such a vast amount of knowledge to share and we white fellas have so much to learn.
Thank you so much! :cup:
Cheers
Steph
-
Hi Evo
Great article, thankyou very much.
I found the bit about marriage ceremonies a bit strange, as to my knowledge no tribe has ever had marriage ceremonies as such. When a boy becomes a man, he is gioven a [promised wiofe, and when she is of appropriate leaning and age, he is entitled to go to the family and take his wife. To any politically correct person who does not like that idea, I don't care, our ways are as they are.
Regards
Tjupurula
Yep what can I say. Im guessing it was written by someone who had the best intentions but little knowledge.
I can understand what you mean, nothing wrong with the way that works mate.
On the whole though I do like how there is allot of focus here on the history (both aboriginal and early settlers) of the area. There is so much to learn and the discovery center the the article speaks of is a fantastic place to vist.
Cheers
Evo
-
Hi Tjupurula,
You are an amazing person. I don't post much here but I absolutely love reading your posts and insights. You have such a vast amount of knowledge to share and we white fellas have so much to learn.
Thank you so much! :cup:
Cheers
Steph
Hi Steph
We are going to have to agree to disagree there. I am not amazing, I am no different to anyone else on this site, I just hav a different background because I am a black fella, I am extremely proud of my ancestors, my people's culture, our Dreamings and everything else. I do believe that the more people can understand what we (black fellas) are about, and I am talking about us mob who stay in the tribal countries that own us, the more people will realise that there could be something worthwhile learning more about and respecting.
I ws not sharing much before I had my heart attacks, but then I saw those disgusting, ill mannered black drunks in towns, and I began to understand why a lot of people do not have much time for black fellas, and I completely comprehended such feelings.
It is people like the members of this site who are amazing, letting a desert black fella be a member and allowing me to share some things. My daughter said similar kinds of things on another site, she was referred to as a "dirty coon" and told quite open to get off the site. In the end they were the losers, and they were the uneducated ones, as she showers regularly, so she is not dirty, and the only thing that I know which is "coon" is a brand of cheese. My daughter laughed it off, as I have taught all my descendants not to worry about what others say, it is their (the others) problems, not ours at all.
Hopefully back to topic again.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
Thanks for this fantastic topic Tjupurula
I was born in a town in NSW called Quirindi - from Wikipedia - The Indigenous Kamilaroi people lived in the area for many thousands of years. The name Quirindi comes from the Gamilaraay language, with a number of meanings having been attributed it, which include ‘nest in the hills’, ‘place where fish breed’ and ‘dead tree on mountain top’.[1][4] Early spellings of the name included ‘Cuerindi’ and ‘Kuwherindi’
My family lived in a little village about 19kms away called Caroona (cannot find an Aboriginal name). There was an Aboriginal Mission very close to our farm. This topic has stirred me to do some research and this is what I found
Caroona formerly had a station on the Binnaway – Werris Creek railway line and has a grain storage and loading facility. Caroona is located near the Mooki River.
The village of Walhallow is located about 2 kilometres north of Caroona, although it is across the local government area boundary, in Gunnedah Shire. Walhallow is the site of a former aboriginal reserve and mission, and was formerly called 'Caroona Mission'.
I also found some other items about the Mission which you might find of interest
http://www.workingwithatsi.info/content/reading11E.htm (http://www.workingwithatsi.info/content/reading11E.htm)
http://indigenoushistories.com/2013/01/11/wallhallow-the-first-aboriginal-ww1-memorial/ (http://indigenoushistories.com/2013/01/11/wallhallow-the-first-aboriginal-ww1-memorial/)
http://www.heritage.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahpi/record.pl?RNE16088 (http://www.heritage.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahpi/record.pl?RNE16088)
We moved away from the farm when I was only about 5 years old, but remember my Dad talking about lots of things. Mum and Dad hired some of the Aboriginal men from the Mission to work on the farm sometimes and always invited them to sit at our table and have a meal with the family (some declined as they felt scared maybe) but told mum that we were the only family in the district that invited them inside. Very sad, but it was back in the 60's. Dad always had great respect for the men who worked for him, and from what I have heard, they respected him greatly too. The farmer mentioned in the article who donated the land for the graveyard, was the man who bought our farm.
Thank you so much for this thread Tjupurula. It has brought back so many wonderful memories for me.
-
Another one with a big family attachment
Cootamundra NSW
Cootamundra is best known for being the birthplace of Australian cricketing great Sir Donald Bradman (on 27 August 1908) and as the home of the Cootamundra Wattle (Acacia Baileyana).
The region was originally occupied by the indigenous Wiradjuri people. Europeans entered the area from around 1830
The town itself was built on land that was once a part of John Hurley's 'Cootamondra' station. The name is a variation of the Aboriginal term 'gooramundra', which translates either to 'turtle', 'swamp' or 'low lying'.
-
Not a town name but this may of interest for those who live in or are visiting Brisbane. Seems an appropriate topic for those cruising these forums. Hope I can get down & have a look.
http://www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions/yiwarra_kuju/home (http://www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions/yiwarra_kuju/home)
-
I was born in a town in NSW called Quirindi -
Who’d A Thought It? (local joke there! there is a lookout on the hill near town with this name)
I worked in Quirindi for 3 yrs (84-87). Lived in Tamworth though.
Same indigenous people as where I came from near Terry Hie Hie (Kamilaroi)
-
I grew up in a town on the south coast of NSW called Ulladulla meaning safe harbour
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Me too, I now live on the Gold Coast, the aboriginal meaning for the GC is "shiny shallow people living beyond their means".
;D
-
Who’d A Thought It? (local joke there! there is a lookout on the hill near town with this name)
I worked in Quirindi for 3 yrs (84-87). Lived in Tamworth though.
Same indigenous people as where I came from near Terry Hie Hie (Kamilaroi)
Haha Noel_w - never thought anyone would know about Who'd a Thought it ! We had friends who lived up the road to the lookout. We left Quirindi in about 1966 and moved to Sydney - what a culture shock that was for a kid from the bush
-
Hi Tjupurula,
You are an amazing person. I don't post much here but I absolutely love reading your posts and insights. You have such a vast amount of knowledge to share and we white fellas have so much to learn.
Thank you so much! :cup:
Cheers
Steph
Hi Steph
We are going to have to agree to disagree there. I am not amazing, I am no different to anyone else on this site, I just hav a different background because I am a black fella, I am extremely proud of my ancestors, my people's culture, our Dreamings and everything else. I do believe that the more people can understand what we (black fellas) are about, and I am talking about us mob who stay in the tribal countries that own us, the more people will realise that there could be something worthwhile learning more about and respecting.
I ws not sharing much before I had my heart attacks, but then I saw those disgusting, ill mannered black drunks in towns, and I began to understand why a lot of people do not have much time for black fellas, and I completely comprehended such feelings.
It is people like the members of this site who are amazing, letting a desert black fella be a member and allowing me to share some things. My daughter said similar kinds of things on another site, she was referred to as a "dirty coon" and told quite open to get off the site. In the end they were the losers, and they were the uneducated ones, as she showers regularly, so she is not dirty, and the only thing that I know which is "coon" is a brand of cheese. My daughter laughed it off, as I have taught all my descendants not to worry about what others say, it is their (the others) problems, not ours at all.
Hopefully back to topic again.
Regards
Tjupurula
Hi Tjupurula,
You got me thinking about the meaning and origin of the word "coon". So i did a google search and wiki gives a number of definitions of the word, but no mention of using it as a dirogitory word. All I could find is referals to the solider warriors that fought the Trojan war in ancient greece, and it is also an abreviated name for the american cat Maine Coon, "with a distinctive physical appearance and valuable hunting skills. It is one of the oldest natural breeds"
Not being one to be upset when people call me names, and try to see good in most things, I would take it as a compliment, and look at the person calling me one as uneducated ;D
I hope you dont mind my research.
-
I grew up in Ku-ring-gai Council (Guringai people), went to school in Turramurra (High Hill or Tall Trees) and lived in Wahroonga (Our Home).
I too have lived in a suburb of Blacktown for the last 15 years and whilst I agree that history is history still do not like the name or how it came about. I was only talking with LB the other day about why they have not changed the name, I could imagine it would been seen by some as trying to erase history.
What a wonderful topic, now I am going to stay up late into the night and early morning reading and researching more about where I was born and the Aboriginal history of the area.
Bunyip
-
I work in Onslow, not sure of the aboriginal name for the town, but the land I work on is owned by the Thalanyji people.
Cheers
Kieran
-
I live in Yokine (northern suburb of Perth) which (according to wikipedia) is Nyungar for dog. Local shopping centre is Dog Swamp which fits in with the naming convention but can't imagine it entices people to travel far to shop here!
-
I work in Onslow, not sure of the aboriginal name for the town, but the land I work on is owned by the Thalanyji people.
Cheers
Kieran
Hi Kieran
Which Onslow are you talking about, as the only one that I know of is closer to Geraldton or Carnarvon here in WA.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
Haha Noel_w - never thought anyone would know about Who'd a Thought it ! We had friends who lived up the road to the lookout. We left Quirindi in about 1966 and moved to Sydney - what a culture shock that was for a kid from the bush
Hi Sonny
I have learned all about "culture shocks". Last year I got a bit sick, and was flown to Broome, then Perth, then Adelaide, and was flown back via Alice Springs. When I left I was 52, and the biggest city I had ever been to at that stage was Broome. I had been to Alice Springs a couple of times, but camped out of town and allowed the family to take care of everything that needed doing. I have decided that I will never againg to a big town, I am a desert black fella, nothing more and nothing less.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
Hi Kieran
Which Onslow are you talking about, as the only one that I know of is closer to Geraldton or Carnarvon here in WA.
Regards
Tjupurula
The one just south of Karratha, ashburton river is on it's doorstep.
Cheers.
-
The one just south of Karratha, ashburton river is on it's doorstep.
Cheers.
Hi Kieran
Quite familiar with most of the area there, especially around Cain River area. I also know Ngarantjadu (nea Millstream National Park) quite well. Got a bit confused with location there, sorry about that. Napanangka (my wife) loves Wickham and Point Samson, which she spend a lot of her childhood.
Tjupurula
-
Hi 03Hilux
Why the heck would I get upset with some research. I am going to remember those names, so when I hear or read the term next, I can ask the individual which one they are referring to, and thank them for the compliment either way. Only one thing upsets me, getting called late for a meal, hard to warm a meal up when the coals have gonelow.
Regards
Tjupurla
-
Hi 03Hilux
Why the heck would I get upset with some research. I am going to remember those names, so when I hear or read the term next, I can ask the individual which one they are referring to, and thank them for the compliment either way. Only one thing upsets me, getting called late for a meal, hard to warm a meal up when the coals have gonelow.
Regards
Tjupurla
Glad to help. Could you take a picture of the persons face when you question them? I'd love to see someones face when they realise that Aboringinals actually educated.
-
Glad to help. Could you take a picture of the persons face when you question them? I'd love to see someones face when they realise that Aboringinals actually educated.
I actually like your spelling of Aboriginals better than the correct one, as it has the black fella silent "n" in it.
Tjupurula
-
The Melbourne suburb of Nunawading is ment to be an indigenous name for meeting place..or battleground. Nice part of the world..so can see why it could be a meeting place.
Hi Jimc1
Many places are named after the original names fo meeting places, which were also, a lot of the time, battlegrounds. These areas were frequently selected because of reliable water nearby.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
Hi Kieran
Quite familiar with most of the area there, especially around Cain River area. I also know Ngarantjadu (nea Millstream National Park) quite well. Got a bit confused with location there, sorry about that. Napanangka (my wife) loves Wickham and Point Samson, which she spend a lot of her childhood.
Tjupurula
A good mate of mine is married to an aboriginal lady, she is from the Wickham/roebourne area also. After spending quite a number of years living in karratha myself, my wife kids and i love the area and would dearly love to live there again, we genuinely love the whole area, one of my favourite camping spots is gregory's gorge, which you travel through millstream NP to get to, im not sure of its aboriginal name though, however there is a spot on the way that is sacred to aboriginals as a ceremonial place, its a big rock that is covered in talc. Its got barriers around it, but i always stopped and had a look and read the sign. You may know where this is
-
My eldest daughters name is Tathra, it means "beautiful country" although I have also sometime in the past found it defined as "sacred place". Perhaps this is because the area - NSW far south coast - seems to have been shared between a number of tribes, including Yuin and Thaua (there were/are many more).
There is also a Tathra National Park in Western Australia, and interestingly the meaning of it is also "beautiful place", although that is from the Nyoongar dialect... interesting that people on opposite sides of the country share this word.
-
I actually like your spelling of Aboriginals better than the correct one, as it has the black fella silent "n" in it.
Tjupurula
OOPS. I didnt even notice the mistake. But on the upside, i can speak two languishes now. ;D
-
A good mate of mine is married to an aboriginal lady, she is from the Wickham/roebourne area also. After spending quite a number of years living in karratha myself, my wife kids and i love the area and would dearly love to live there again, we genuinely love the whole area, one of my favourite camping spots is gregory's gorge, which you travel through millstream NP to get to, im not sure of its aboriginal name though, however there is a spot on the way that is sacred to aboriginals as a ceremonial place, its a big rock that is covered in talc. Its got barriers around it, but i always stopped and had a look and read the sign. You may know where this is
Yes Kieran, I know exactly where you are talking about, and yes it is a ceremonial area, so thatis the end of that discussion. There are some things I will not and cannot talk about.
Tjupurula
-
My eldest daughters name is Tathra, it means "beautiful country" although I have also sometime in the past found it defined as "sacred place". Perhaps this is because the area - NSW far south coast - seems to have been shared between a number of tribes, including Yuin and Thaua (there were/are many more).
There is also a Tathra National Park in Western Australia, and interestingly the meaning of it is also "beautiful place", although that is from the Nyoongar dialect... interesting that people on opposite sides of the country share this word.
It is quite common that some words are shared, and also frequently the same word with a completely different meaning.
Tjupuula
-
Yes Kieran, I know exactly where you are talking about, and yes it is a ceremonial area, so thatis the end of that discussion. There are some things I will not and cannot talk about.
Tjupurula
Understood 100%.
-
I lived in a place called warra meaning water and yarraman meaning horse. My family come from yuleba, not sure of the aboriginal meaning, but was always told it was old kiwi for you'll baaaaa when I catch ya
-
I did not know there were that many towns in Australia with Kiwi names, learned something new.
Tjupurula
-
I grew up in Ku-ring-gai Council (Guringai people), went to school in Turramurra (High Hill or Tall Trees) and lived in Wahroonga (Our Home).
I too have lived in a suburb of Blacktown for the last 15 years and whilst I agree that history is history still do not like the name or how it came about. I was only talking with LB the other day about why they have not changed the name, I could imagine it would been seen by some as trying to erase history.
What a wonderful topic, now I am going to stay up late into the night and early morning reading and researching more about where I was born and the Aboriginal history of the area.
Bunyip
Off topic but Bunyip if you look at the area between 1st & 3rd Avenue in Blacktown not much has changed in 200 years, just the origins of a group of displaced people herded into an area....
-
Hi,
Gregory has been mentioned here a few times.
His story is well worth reading, not famous like a lot of the 'establishment' explorers, perhaps because of his humble beginnings.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51HEA7C1MXL._SY300_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.com/Hard-Country-Men-Footsteps-Gregory/dp/0868066842)
I got the book from the local library, and found it fascinating reading.
cheers
-
Hi,
Gregory has been mentioned here a few times.
His story is well worth reading, not famous like a lot of the 'establishment' explorers, perhaps because of his humble beginnings.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51HEA7C1MXL._SY300_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.com/Hard-Country-Men-Footsteps-Gregory/dp/0868066842)
I got the book from the local library, and found it fascinating reading.
cheers
Hi Austastar
Have you realsied, from my profile, where I live. Mulan community is on the edge of Lake Gregory, and have a basic guess where the name came from. I hve already had the privilege of reading the book, and you are correct, it is a good read. This area is now known by the proper tribal name, which is Paruku, but we still acknowledge the nae Lake Gregory as well.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
I did not know there were that many towns in Australia with Kiwi names, learned something new.
Tjupurula
Isn't Bondi Kiwi for something?
-
Isn't Bondi Kiwi for something?
I don't know, I am an Australian black fella.
-
I don't know, I am an Australian black fella.
:)
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
-
Isn't Bondi Kiwi for something?
Yeah, "promised land" :)
-
I don't know, I am an Australian black fella.
:cup: :cup: ;D ;D:cheers:
-
Yeah, "promised land" :)
Many, many years ago, the then Government made a lot of promises regarding the land that owns my people. Not one promise was kept, instead people were chained up and removed from the country that is a part of our very existence. That "innocent" joke (and I am not blaming you Squalo) brought back some painful memories. When I was about 5 years old, I saw my grandfathers father, with horrible scars all the way around his neck. He told me that it was because he was neck chained for nearly half a year, he got upset when the Native Affairs Administrator broke a promise of letting him go back to the land he loved, the land where his spirit was at home. He was punished for verball abusing the Administrator.
Sometimes what one sees as a funny comment can really be so painful to someone else. In the case of Australian Aboriginals, the land means everything to us, more than most people could ever understand. Please try to understand that what could be funny to some is painful to others, I undestand you had no intention of any offence, so no need to apologise, but please try to understand so that the same misunderstanding does not occur again.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
A town I used to visit quite often was Bidyadanga - believe it is " emu watering hole "
-
A town I used to visit quite often was Bidyadanga - believe it is " emu watering hole "
That is correct. Bidyedanga, also known as La Grange, where I have quite a few family members from my mothers side of the family.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
Isn't Bondi Kiwi for something?
From Wikipedia
"Bondi" or "Boondi" is an Aboriginal word meaning water breaking over rocks or noise of water breaking over rocks.[1][2] The Australian Museum records that Bondi means place where a flight of nullas took place.
-
That is correct. Bidyedanga, also known as La Grange, where I have quite a few family members from my mothers side of the family.
Regards
Tjupurula
My mother may have taught some kids from your mothers side at the school there she finished up there about 3 years back she worked for about 2 years up there - mad still working in her 70's - but the town ship was a stunning place and i still have photos of some of the kids playing with my kids in the local pool so much personality
-
My mother may have taught some kids from your mothers side at the school there she finished up there about 3 years back she worked for about 2 years up there - mad still working in her 70's - but the town ship was a stunning place and i still have photos of some of the kids playing with my kids in the local pool so much personality
I do not know how many family groups you got to know there, but we are related tpo tyhe Billycan family and the Frank family in Bidyeganga. We stkll go over there now and then for various reasons.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
I do not know how many family groups you got to know there, but we are related tpo tyhe Billycan family and the Frank family in Bidyeganga. We stkll go over there now and then for various reasons.
Regards
Tjupurula
I think I read some where that you dont have an e-mail address and it is not the rite thing to post pictures of kids on a public forum with out parents consent but if you have access to an e-mail address I will send photos to you of the kids playing in the pool there just pm me
-
Mooroolbark Vic, red dirt or red earth I can't remember which.
-
Warburton, aboriginal for errrrrrrr Warburton
-
Moonroolbark Vic, red dirt or red earth I can't remember which.
I know that Muurulbuk means red soil/earth/dirt, it could well havecome from there.
Tjupurula
-
I think I read some where that you dont have an e-mail address and it is not the rite thing to post pictures of kids on a public forum with out parents consent but if you have access to an e-mail address I will send photos to you of the kids playing in the pool there just pm me
PM sent
-
From Wikipedia
"Bondi" or "Boondi" is an Aboriginal word meaning water breaking over rocks or noise of water breaking over rocks.[1][2] The Australian Museum records that Bondi means place where a flight of nullas took place.
Hi Oldmate
In Walmajarri (my language) a buundi is a solid rock foundation, an yes, it was the kind of place my ancestors would choose for a fight with nulla nullas took place. The reason for the rock formation was in case anyone came out with boomerangs or spears, the rock formation would afford some safety.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
Hi Oldmate
In Walmajarri (my language) a buundi is a solid rock foundation, an yes, it was the kind of place my ancestors would choose for a fight with nulla nullas took place. The reason for the rock formation was in case anyone came out with boomerangs or spears, the rock formation would afford some safety.
Regards
Tjupurula
There you go as a kid if we was to throw a rock at something or some one we would say we are trowing buundies - so that is where the word is from, thanks when the kids are out the back fighting with rocks ( buundies ) I will explain to them where the word came from.
-
Hi,
Gregory has been mentioned here a few times.
His story is well worth reading, not famous like a lot of the 'establishment' explorers, perhaps because of his humble beginnings.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51HEA7C1MXL._SY300_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.com/Hard-Country-Men-Footsteps-Gregory/dp/0868066842)
I got the book from the local library, and found it fascinating reading.
cheers
I have that book as well. Read it on the way from Alice to Broome. Was really good :cheers:
-
I have that book as well. Read it on the way from Alice to Broome. Was really good :cheers:
I just realised that the foreword is by Janet Holmes a Court, I think she is the one who owns Flora Valley Station over on the way to Ringers Soak.
Tjupurula
-
I just realised that the foreword is by Janet Holmes a Court, I think she is the one who owns Flora Valley Station over on the way to Ringers Soak.
Tjupurula
Really, I had no idea. It's a good read and amazing how hard it was for all back then.
-
Really, I had no idea. It's a good read and amazing how hard it was for all back then.
Not really all that hard Steve. A couple ofyears ago, during the wet, we push about 1800 cattle on the Tanami frpo Yuendemu to Tanami Downs on horseback, and we did not lose any, other than a couple for a feed. It only took us 10 weeks, and if this is the life you are used to, there is nothing hard about it. We did have a couple of "experienced" stockmen, not drovers, with us, they lasted just over a week.
Tjupurula
-
My oldest grandson (nearly 14) has discovered that a lo of actual communities are named after "missionaries". Hermansburg near Alice Spring is actually named after a German Missionary named Herman, and apparentl there are heap of others. Kind of strange that many towns have Aboriginal names, and many Aboriginal communiies have been named after missionaries or well rcognised people. Mulan is still know as Lake Gregory Station, named after Gregory the traveller/discoverer.
Regards
Tjupurula
-
There are a few explanations for Toowoomba on the local history site.
http://www.toowoombarc.qld.gov.au/facilities-and-recreation/libraries/local-history-library/7871-the-naming-of-toowoomba (http://www.toowoombarc.qld.gov.au/facilities-and-recreation/libraries/local-history-library/7871-the-naming-of-toowoomba)
The pronunciation of The Swamp as Tawampa is similar to what I remember vaguely from my childhood.
Ray
-
I know that Muurulbuk means red soil/earth/dirt, it could well havecome from there.
Tjupurula
Cool!
I did just fix my typo too.
It Mooroolbark. Or as we used to call it "cow kanga dog"
Cheers
-
Cool!
I did just fix my typo too.
It Mooroolbark. Or as we used to call it "cow kanga dog"
Cheers
Embarrassingly enough my granddaughter had to explain the "cow kanga dog" bit to me.
Tjupurula
-
Cool!
I did just fix my typo too.
It Mooroolbark. Or as we used to call it "cow kanga dog"
Cheers
I get it ;D
That would be a good clue on one of those "fox hunt" drives.
We had one years ago through sydney (Parramatta to windsor), and one of the clues was in the suburb of Riverstone, A road that shares the same name as a fat cat (Garfield Rd)
Sorry for the minor thread hack. Now back to the topic.
-
Hi all. Just wanted to let you know Tjupurula is off to Darwin Hospital today so they can keep and eye on him. It's been a rough couple of days so time to get some big city help. He sounded well and is waiting for the RFDS to take him from Derby to Darwin today. I'll be in Mulan on Monday so I'll see his wife and get an update. Hopefully all goes well.
-
Hi all. Just wanted to let you know Tjupurula is off to Darwin Hospital today so they can keep and eye on him. It's been a rough couple of days so time to get some big city help. He sounded well and is waiting for the RFDS to take him from Derby to Darwin today. I'll be in Mulan on Monday so I'll see his wife and get an update. Hopefully all goes well.
Thanks for the update Steve, I though it was a bit quiet on here of late with some quality posting from the desert
GG
-
Hi all. Just wanted to let you know Tjupurula is off to Darwin Hospital today so they can keep and eye on him. It's been a rough couple of days so time to get some big city help. He sounded well and is waiting for the RFDS to take him from Derby to Darwin today. I'll be in Mulan on Monday so I'll see his wife and get an update. Hopefully all goes well.
Please give her our best wishes from us all Steve, and tell her that they are all in our thoughts as her family goes though this hard time. :cheers:
-
Yea, will do fellas. Going to help her out getting the computer working as the keyboard has lost the wireless thingy. I'll give an update when I can
-
My young cousin will be in Mulan on teh 3rd August for a week.
Although I've never met Tjupurula personally myself, I've spoken to my cousin about him quite alot, and relayed what I vaguely know of him.
I hope hes back then to meet my cousin and speak directly.
Also sending him a PM.
-
I grew up in Wangaratta (NE Vic). It meant "meeting of 2 rivers" the Ovens and King rivers
Just out of town was a large farm, one of the first in the area called Bontharambo, meaning "treeless plains" it did have an Aboriginal camp on the nearby river, but I don't think it ended well for them after an uprising.
Most of the towns in north and northeast Victoria, (and possibly right across) have Aboriginal sounding names. so much so that the English names sound out of place.
It is funny listening to outsiders trying to pronounce them using the English gramma. It can be so bad you have no idea of where they are talking about.
Had some toffs in town trying to pronounce it won-gar-ratta, instead of wang-gar-ratta, because that is how "wan" is pronounced. Considering how the town is spelt how it sounds and not the other way around.