In my new book I talk about the rivers in Wiradjuri Country. Wiradjuri are the people of the 3 bila (rivers). The 3 main rivers are Galari (the Lachlan River), Wambuul (the Macquarie River) and Marrambidya (the Murrumbidgee River). Milawa (the Murray River) borders our Country to the south. We have a deep connection with these rivers. Many of our stories are linked to rivers and the animals and plants that live there.
After so much rain our rivers are full and the wetlands are full of birds. Near Forbes, in Wiradjuri Country, there are some new bird hides at Gum Swamp which helps to give you a closer look at some of the birds.
Billabong comes from the Wiradjuri word bila-bang. Bila is our word for river. We also call the Milky Way bila-bang.
A special animal that lives in rivers is bila-durang the platypus. Our stories about bila-durang tell us that she is part duck (bird) and part water rat (mammal). She has webbed feet and a bill like a duck and lays eggs like a bird, but she has fur like a mammal. For us it is a good omen to see a platypus.
In February baby platypus will be leaving their burrows so it is a good time to watch for them. Find a comfortable place on a river bank and sit and watch. Who knows what you might see.
To find out more about the platypus visit the Australian Museum’s website. To buy my new book go to the National Library of Australia’s online bookshop.
