College Houses

Binging (Turtle)

Once there was a man named Binging and a man named Gunual, and they were both in love with a girl named Gugu. Bingings totem was the turtle which represented common sense and love. Because he loved Gugu, he brought her flowers and sweet fruits; he watched the sun go down with her, he listened to her talk, and he held her. One day the girl was getting teased by a bunch of people. So, she asked the Binging to go and frighten them. When the turtle man went to fight, he befriended them. Gugu wasn't happy with the outcome, so she went to see Gunual.

Gunuals totem is the goanna, representing strength, power and greed. When she told the goanna man what had happened, he went down to the river and he hit them. Goanna man got angry at Gugu and said he might hit her, so she went in search of Binging turtle man for protection.

The goanna man followed her footprints and found the turtle man holding Gugu. The turtle man held up two shields and then jumped into the water. When he was in the river the goanna man threw spears at him, but the shields stopped the spears from killing him. Then he changed himself into a turtle and swam into the ocean. This is how the turtles became. The turtle lives in the water and if you ever see one, they will swim away or go into their shell. And the girl who is the fish Gugu also lives in the water with the turtle.

(Adapted from the story THE TURTLE MAN BUDGIAL by Cynthia Farr Baruŋgam)

Gowandi (Dolphin)

Dolphins, which can often be seen from Jellurgal, had a special relationship with the Kombumerri. They drove schools of fish into shallow water to be netted or speared by fishermen. For children, dolphins meant safety. Children knew they were protected from sharks when dolphins were nearby.

Dolphins were trained by Gowandi. Here is his story.

Gowandi was a legendary Kombumerri who lived in the Nerang Valley. He was a striking figure — big, strong and easily recognised by his long white hair. His ability to train hunting dogs was renowned. At his commands his dogs would round up wallabies and kangaroos and drive them towards hunters.

Gowandi lived a happy life, but eventually he grew old and died, causing great sorrow among the Kombumerri. But their sadness soon turned to joy. Some children, playing on the beach near Burleigh, saw a dolphin swimming in the waves close to the shore. When they looked closer, they realised it was their beloved Gowandi. He had returned as a dolphin, and in place of his long white hair he now had a white fin.

Just as he had taught his dogs to hunt, he was hard at work teaching the dolphins how to round up fish for his people. Gowandi’s descendants can be seen today — among every shoal of dolphins they are the leaders, and some have white fins just like Gowandi.

(Adapted from the dreamtime story of Gwondo or Gowanda from Kombumerri Project)

Jubi (Mudcrab)

Once there was a woman named Jubi. She loved to play music and to dance. Many people invited Jubi to their gatherings to play her music and do her special movements which were always side to side. On one occasion all the women in child danced around the fire to bring to their unborn child the good spirits. Unfortunately, Jubi danced too close and her body caught the flame. She ran to the river to out the flames. Her baby was saved but she turned into a mudcrab and her stomach remained red. This is why you must never catch female mudcrabs (with the red on the stomach) as these are the eggs from which new crabs are hatched.

Wardjam (Whale)

Many years ago, in the Dreaming, there was a man called Wardjam. Whenever Wardjam walked or moved his feet sparks and fire flew out from them. Wardjam’s friends and other people who lived in the area were fascinated by the sparks and fire as they had never seen fire before. One day a man called Talle saw Wardjam’s fire and he decided that he would like to have some. Instead of asking Wardjam would he share his fire, Talle was planning how he could get some.

Wardjam threw a large party on the beach and Talle came out from the bushes and threw spears at Wardjam. The spear hit him in the neck and spark flew out of the wound. He ran to the ocean where he turned into a whale and the sparks turned to water spurting from his neck. Each year the whales migrate north to Hervey Bay to give birth to their young. Perhaps Wardjam is among them.

(Adapted from the story of Kondili the whale.)