‘Bidhi Galing’ is a picture book inspired by Anita Heiss’ award-winning novel Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray about the Great Flood of Gundagai. This book won the 2022 NSW Premier’s Indigenous Writer’s Prize. ‘Bidhi Galing’ is the picture book version of this flood at Gundagai along with the story of two Wiradyuri young heroes, Yarri and Jacky Jacky who, over three days, paddled a bark canoe and a rowboat through the flooding waters. They saved 69 people—one third of Gundagai’s population—from drowning.
The opening endpapers offer a tranquil river meandering through a peaceful landscape. The story is told by Wagadhaany, who enjoys a close-knit family life. Her name means ‘dancer’ and that is her favourite pursuit, especially dancing in the rain. But when the rain raises along the banks, she is afraid. Her uncle warns her that the river can rise suddenly and is very dangerous. One day, white people arrive and build shelters on these flood plains despite being warned by the Aboriginal people that floods made this area unsafe for housing. The warnings were ignored. Meanwhile, Wagadhanny works for a white family, cooking and cleaning for them, and despairs of having so little time to be with her family.
The rains came and the river rose, trapping animals and people. All of Gundagai is under water. Through Wagadhaany’s perspective we experience the danger and fear felt by the animals and people. Two young men, Yarri and Jacky Jacky, are determined to rescue as many of the townspeople as they can, even though they have only a bark canoe and a rowboat. Many years later, the town of Gundagai celebrated the two brave young men who saved so many lives. Throughout the story, the artwork fills the double page spreads, capturing the lives and activities of the people, the arrival of the white men, and the consequences of building on a flood plain. The emphasis is on revealing cultural activities.
In an author’s note, Anita Heiss explains that when learning Wiradjuri language as an adult, she wanted to pay tribute to her ancestors and so wrote this story based on Yarri’s and Jacky Jacky’s heroism in the Great Flood of Gundagai in 1852. There are 15 words and concepts expressed in Wiradjuri language included in the story. Most can be understood in the story’s context thus encouraging readers to experience language and culture expressed in this heroic story.
Anita Heiss is a proud member of the Wiradyuri Nation of central New South Wales and an Ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, amongst other wide-ranging professional activities.
Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander Resource
