Wawi Uncle Ossie Ingram, Wiradjuri Elder from Narrandera relates aspects of spiritual beliefs in the story of Wawi, a serpent creature and supreme being who lives deep in water holes along the river and in billabongs. Ossie was taught in his youth about Wawi by Billy Green, initiated Wiradjuri man from Condobolin. Wawi can be in many places at any one time. One place he lives is Wollundry Lagoon in central Wagga Wagga. Ossie says “This Wawi, I’ve seen him, don’t you worry, there in the lagoon…….a supreme being, that’s what he is, so you must have respect or lookout!” “When you go down to the water, you must have respect, turn three times then ask permission. You say “Yurraman mujjie mujjie,” this say “Where are you?” (Meaning “I am here, where are you?”) But if you see him, large bubbles coming to the surface, maybe even a fin or a big tail, you keep away, him looking for prey” , (93). This story of Wawi was earlier recorded by Mathews (94) and appears to be present in the tradition of the Wiradjuri and Darling River peoples, (94,95). According to these sources, Wawi burrows into the river bank where he makes his den. A doctor or clever man may visit Wawi but must paint his body all over with red ochre. The man follows a rainbow some days after there has been a thundershower, the end of the rainbow resting over the waterhole where Wawi lives. The man then dives under the bank where Wawi sings him a new song for ritual at the corroboree. The man repeats the song until he has learnt it and then returns to his people. He then teaches some of the other clever men the song and associated dance. This is how new songs and dances are obtained. Wawi has the magic power of varying his size from a few inches up to a monstrous size. The black streak in the milky way towards the Southern cross is one of the ancestors of Wawi (94, 96) The story of Wawi (or Waway) is also recently described by Stan Grant as told to him by his grandfather, (97). Versions of the story of Wawi are known across Australia where he is more often referred to by English speakers as the “Rainbow Serpent”. Stories associated with the Rainbow Serpent are told to children at a young age to teach them where there is water in the landscape for drinking but also about the dangers of water and the respect needed to be shown for it and the creatures which inhabit it.
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