1. Art motifs
2. Art, Aboriginal Australian
3. Bunjalung people (E12) (NSW SH56-02)
4. Country
5. Family
6. Floods
7. Gidhabal people (E14) (NSW SH56-02)
8. Parent and child
9. Rivers and creeks
10. Storytelling
11. Water sources

‘Dirrangun’ is an old woman, some call her a witch and say she’s mean and cunning. Others say she’s friendly, but all say that she is very old and has hair down to her knees. Dirrangun is well-known along the northern NSW coast and there are a number of stories about Dirrangun. This book contains two.

The storytellers are Eustan Willams of the Githhuval people and Lucy Daley of the Bunjalung people. The stories tell of family arguments over water and the consequential creation of the Clarence River. The Clarence is the largest river on Australia’s eastern seaboard and flows through the country of three First Nations people, Bundjalung to the northwest, Gumbayngirr to the southeast and Yaegl towards the mouth of the river. All the Dirrangun tales tell of Dirrangun’s enormous power and relationship to various landmarks in the area.

The stories were originally collected by Roland Robinson, a poet, who spent his life collecting First Nations stories and songs. He is known to have had a deep appreciation of the rhythm of these stories and went to great lengths to ensure they were translated accurately.

Bronwyn Bancroft’s distinctive stylistic artwork is detailed and full of colour combining the traditional with the contemporary, particularly in her use of bright colours, which perfectly reflects each story’s narrative.

The stories are fast-paced, action packed and perfect for read-alouds.

Storyteller Eustan Williams is a Githavul man from the NSW North coast. Lucy Daley was a respected Elder and custodian of language and stories of the Bunjalung people. Illustrator Bronwyn Bancroft is a descendant of the Bunjalung people whose artwork combines the contemporary with traditional Indigenous designs. She has exhibited internationally and throughout Australia. She has also authored and illustrated a number of books for children.

1. ABC Facebook ‘The Baryulgil version story of Dirrangun and how the Clarence River came to be’ https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2068867543419920
2. Surfline 16 July 2021. ‘Dirrangun of the Clarence: A story of the coast from the Dreaming’ another Dirrangun story https://www.surfline.com/surf-news/dirrangun-of-the-clarence/125901
3. Teachers’ hub@harpercollins. Teachers’ notes for three Bronwyn Bancroft books including ‘Dirrangun’ https://hcau-assets.supadu.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/04004435/TG-9780732295332.pdf
4. Magpies Vol 11, No. 2, May 1996. Donna Rawlins interview: ‘Know the Illustrator – Bronwyn Bancroft’ https://search.informit.org/doi/pdf/10.3316/ielapa.970504584?download=true