The Legend of Bunjil
Marlene came to our school and read us the story of Bunjil the eagle. Click on the link below to listen to Marlene read the Legend of Bunjil.
In 2014, we had three people from the Wadawurrung tribe come to visit our school. They were Marlene and Tammy Gilson, and Bryon Powell. Marlene and Bryon are Wadawurrung elders. We showed them the work we have put up on this website.
The Legend of Bunjil
Bunjil had two wives and a son named Binbeal the Rainbow, whose wife was the second bow, sometimes seen showing fainter than the first (look at the stars in the Milky Way galaxy).
When Bunjil had finished creating the landscape and the animals, he decided to bring humanity into existence. He gathered up up quantity of clay from Mount Kirret Barreet (Gordon's Black Hill), divided it in two, and placed it on large sheets of bark that had been cut from a gum tree. Bunjil then worked the clay, shaping it into images of two men. He took stringy bark from the trees and used it for hair. He blew air into the mouths, noses and navels of these new creatures and filled them with life.
Then Bunjil's brother, Pallian, who had been given control of all the rivers, creeks and billabongs, began to thump the water with his hands. The water became thicker and thicker and eventually took on the appearance of two women. Each man was presented with a hunting spear while the women were given a strong digging stick, to unearth yams and edible roots.
Bunjil became tired and created a place called Lal Lal Falls for his final resting place before taking on the form of an eagle.
Bunjil decided that he did not want to stay upon earth. So he gathered his family about him and told Bellin-Bellin, the musk crow, who looked after the winds, to open his bags and let out some of the winds. So Bellin-Bellin opened one of his bags in which he kept the whirlwinds and let out a blast that blew great trees into the air, roots and all.
Bunjil said "That is not enough. Let out more wind." Bellin-Bellin opened all his bags at once and a huge wind came out and blew Bunjil and all his people to the sky where they now live, looking down on the world as stars.
Bunjil had two wives and a son named Binbeal the Rainbow, whose wife was the second bow, sometimes seen showing fainter than the first (look at the stars in the Milky Way galaxy).
When Bunjil had finished creating the landscape and the animals, he decided to bring humanity into existence. He gathered up up quantity of clay from Mount Kirret Barreet (Gordon's Black Hill), divided it in two, and placed it on large sheets of bark that had been cut from a gum tree. Bunjil then worked the clay, shaping it into images of two men. He took stringy bark from the trees and used it for hair. He blew air into the mouths, noses and navels of these new creatures and filled them with life.
Then Bunjil's brother, Pallian, who had been given control of all the rivers, creeks and billabongs, began to thump the water with his hands. The water became thicker and thicker and eventually took on the appearance of two women. Each man was presented with a hunting spear while the women were given a strong digging stick, to unearth yams and edible roots.
Bunjil became tired and created a place called Lal Lal Falls for his final resting place before taking on the form of an eagle.
Bunjil decided that he did not want to stay upon earth. So he gathered his family about him and told Bellin-Bellin, the musk crow, who looked after the winds, to open his bags and let out some of the winds. So Bellin-Bellin opened one of his bags in which he kept the whirlwinds and let out a blast that blew great trees into the air, roots and all.
Bunjil said "That is not enough. Let out more wind." Bellin-Bellin opened all his bags at once and a huge wind came out and blew Bunjil and all his people to the sky where they now live, looking down on the world as stars.