At the start of the Yakinitj, bolitabolita Creator Beings were sent by the Prenheal to muyuban the different features that cross the mirring. The Creator Beings were of giant form and first arrived at a secret sacred location in the Stony Rises country just to the kuurreen of Kerup. Kerup is also known by some clans as Koon Doon.
These bolitabolita Creator Beings took the shape of maara and became the kaiap of a long line of Law maara who had special spiritual and ceremonial powers and responsibilities. The Gunditjmara believe that the escendants of these bolitabolita maara continue to perform their special duties through generations.
Ngathangan paleeya of the original Law maara moved to other parts of the mirring, to the laahlaar kuurn, and the kameetngunnang. The bolitabolita Law maara crouched down and his giant koong transformed to muyuban the peaks of Tappoc and Budj Bim.
When Budj Bim erupted molten lava and kuulorr some 30,000 years ago, he Gunditjmara witnessed the Creator Being reveal himself in the mirring. The scoria stones are his tun gatt.
Told by John Lovett – Gunditjmara
Translated by Vicki Couzens
Further Information
Dhauwurd wurrong word list
bolitabolita four, fourth
Budj Bim high head Mt Eccles
kaiap one/first
kameetngunnang west
Kerup/Koon Doon Lake Condah
koong body
kuulorr stone
kuurreen south
laahlaar kuurn north
maara men
mirring land/country
muyuban make
ngathangan paleeya three
Prenheal Great Creator Spirit
Tappoc Mt Napier
tun gatt teeth
Yakinitj Dreaming
Sounds of Dhauwurd wurrong
a/aa as in car
ai as in eye
e as in bed
ee as in feet
oo/uu as in foot
u as in but
b/p as in big/pig
k as in kick
l as in like
m as in milk
n as in nail
ng as in sing
r as in road
nh the middle of the tongue at the back of the teeth while making an ‘n’ sound
t as in tea
dj/tj as in church