The Murray Cod A creation Map Story from the Murray River Basin on the boarder of NSW and Victoria Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures.

The Murray River N E S W

What do we know about the Murray river? What is the Murray River? What do we use the Murray River for? What do you think the aboriginal people used the river for? What are some differences from now and then?

Retold with permission by Pauline E. McLeod BACK WHEN THE WORLD WAS YOUNG, a giant Murray cod existed. He was so big that whenever he moved his body he would leave deep tracks right across the land. His huge body knocked down trees and caused massive damage to the land around him. It didn't take long before such destruction to the land came to the notice of the Great Spirit himself, and he decided to stop this monster, the Murray cod. The Great Spirit called two brothers, who were the best in their field, to track down and get rid of the monster cod. The elder brother could track anything across sand, rock, grass, and water, while the younger could hit anything with his spear and boomerang from great distances.

Together the brothers started their search for the monster. With his great skill as a tracker, it did not take long for the elder brother to find the tracks of the monster cod. His destructive path was easy to identify and follow. But the cunning Murray cod knew he was being hunted and moved west as quickly as his giant body would let him, leaving a great groove in the ground, which quickly filled up with water. The chase was relentless, but the brothers would not give up. Days went by and great distances were covered before the two brothers finally cornered the monster Murray cod in a place known today as Lake Alexandrina. The brothers called upon the Great Spirit. “We've found him, but what shall we do with such a monster?”

The Great Spirit's answer was, “Chop the monster cod up into smaller pieces and throw them back into the river that has been created by the chase.” The brothers did so and soon the monstrous fish was divided up into many pieces, which they then flung back into the water. As soon as a piece of the Murray cod hit the water, it became a freshwater fish, like the yellow belly. Many fresh- water fish were created that day and still exist, such as the pomeri (mudfish), tarki (perch), tukkeri (a flat silver fish), kundgulde (butter fish), and mallowe (Murray mouth salmon).

When the brothers came to the head of the Murray cod, they summoned the Great Spirit, once again, asking, “What shall we do with the head?” The Great Spirit answered, “Just throw the head back into the water.” This they did. In a flash it turned into the mighty Murray cod that we know today. The Great Spirit then said, “The Murray cod will never grow to such destructive heights again.” And it was so. And so the great chase of the monster Murray cod is how the Murray River became a great waterway, back when the world was young.

The Murray Cod What did the Murray Cod create? How did he make the river? Why did the Great Spirit want to stop the giant Murray Cod? What happened when the giant Murray Cod was cut up into many pieces? What did these pieces make?

Fresh Water Fish 1)Select a Fish 2)Select a colour and collage the fish in that colour 3)Write the name of the Fish eg: Tukkeri (a silver perch), Mallowe (Murray mouth salmon)