First Australian stories - myths or not?
A few ‘true stories’ about the First Australians from when I was young etc.
Kangaroo
When the first Europeans landed here (Cook 1770 or the First Fleet 1788), they asked the First Australian person what that large, bounding creature was called. They responded with something like “Gan Ga Roo” which means “I don’t know (what you are saying)”. And the Europeans took it as “Kangaroo”.
Moomba
The famous Melbourne festival has been with us since the 1950s. It’s claimed that the First Australians were consulted about what to call the festival, back then. The came up with Moomba which they said meant “get together and have fun” (or similar). Years later it was found to mean something like “kiss my a$$”. Snopes says the status of this is undetermined.
Yarra
Another first contact situation, but this time here in (what became) Melbourne in 1835. The European was pointing at the river and asked a First Australian what it was called. They replied with something like “yarro yarro”. Which roughly means “ever-flowing”. I have heard that “yarro” means flowing or flowing river. So ‘doubling’ it meant ‘lots of them’. It makes sense.
Anyway, it was misheard and became Yarra. So, it could be that Yarra River means Ever Flowing River River. In that case, I just bet that Federation Square – on the banks of the river – has an ATM machine into which you enter your PIN number.
One of the First Australian names for it was Birrarung. From which, it’s assumed, we get Birrarung Marr; the newish riverside park area. I believe that means ‘river of mists’. So maybe Birrarung just means ‘river’?
Tom Groggin
One of favourite drives is up in the Snowies; from the lovely, remote town of Corryong to Tom Groggin ; which is a district and cattle station. I always wondered about old Tom. What sort of bloke was he and when did he settle? What nationality is Groggin?
Well he’s not a he, he’s a spider. It’s a First Australian term; Tomarogin meaning water spider.
