Nerran was a mighty warrior and fearless hunter.

Koote wurrin, after travelling a long way he couldn’t find any napan at all.

At last he tackan Ngurran on the other side of the yarram but the water was very deep and he couldn’t get across.

He searched for a way to get across the yarram when he noticed a parrawatti kallack further down the stream. But Brewin, a mischievous spirit, was hiding nearby.

He liked to move about like a whirlwind and play tricks on people.

As Nerran reached the middle of yarram, Brewin turned the parrawatti kallack over and Nerran fell off into the deep water and he drowned.

Nerran’s spirit went into the sky where he is now, Nerran the moon.

Ngurran also went to the sky and he is now the Southern Cross.

Nerran still hunts through the sky trying to catch Ngurran.

Translated by Lynnette Solomon-Dent

Further Information

Gunai/Kurnai word list

Brewin    mischievous spirit
kallack   sticks
koote    one
napan    food
Nerran    moon
Ngurran   Emu
parrawatti    big
tackan    see, look
wurrin    day, sun
yarram   river

Sounds of Gunai/Kurnai

a as in but
oo as in foot
e as in get
rr rolled r sound
ng as in sing
i as in lick
u as in out