Malamia wutyu ba yauwirr gaiyap yuminaty. Bapgumilang Barra barringata.  Gapin Duanu Barra.

Gungin barringgi Barraku Barringgi Gadyin. Bapgumilang Barra barringgata. Gurtin buatyi dya. Werrka gapang Duanu Barra.

Dyadyin Barra. Wikin. Dyakilang Barraku muwil buaty. Gungin barringgi Barraku Gurru. Bapgumilang Barra barringgata burta. Gungin barringgi Barraku datyuki Gurru.

Bapgumilang Barra barringgata burta. Dyadyilang Barra. Wikin. Dyakilang Barraku gutyu. Gungin barringgi Barraku Ngalukgutya.

Bapgumilang Barra Barringgata burta. Gungin barringggi Barraku dyakili datyuk. Babgumilang Barra burta gurrak-gurraki dyata.
Werrkangun nyakiny.

Translated by Kylie Klimpton Kennedy – Wergaia Guli

English Translation

Long ago, man and animals were one. Barra, the red kangaroo, was jumping along a track. Duan, the phascogale or sugar glider possum, began chasing Barra.

Barra’s tracks created Barringgi Gadyin, the Wimmera River. Barra continued jumping. He arrived at a fi eld of grass. Duan stopped chasing Barra.

So, Barra rested. He was hungry. Barra ate all the grass. This created Gurru, Lake Hindmarsh. Barra continued jumping, slowly. Barra’s tracks created datyuki Gurru, the little outlet from Lake Hindmarsh.

Barra continued along, jumping slowly. After a while, Barra rested. He was hungry. He ate the sour quondongs. This created Ngalukgutya, Lake Albacutya.

Again, Barra continued slowly jumping. Barra’s tracks created a swampy little outlet. Then Barra jumped slowly through the sandhill country. His tracks were lost in the sandhill country.

No-one sees Barra again.

This story explains the creation of a number of life-giving waterholes, and also why red kangaroos do not live on our Country anymore.

Further Information

The sounds of Wergaia

Vowels
i as in beat
e as in bed
a as in bath
u as in boot
ai as in buy
ua as in tour
ui as in Drambui
au as in bough
ie as in hear

Consonants
p/b, m, t/d, n, l, k/g, w – same sounds as in English
rt like an American pronunciation of heart
ty church
dy judge
ny onion
y yacht
ng sing

When you pronounce a Wergaia word, stress is placed on the first syllable, e.g. barra.