SPRING BOOK REVIEW 2019

D’harawal Climate and Natural Resources

Frances Bodkin
Sussex Inlet, 2017

Perhaps thinking deeply as we do in terms of the Japanese Five Seasons, governed by Yin Yang Go Gyo we could revisit or supplement our understanding by listening in to the knowledge deeply held by the elders in this land. Frances’ beautiful book with illustrations by Lorraine Robertson presents the 6 seasons as they occur in The Wollongong region of NSW. in D’harawal Country. Travelling up to the Daly River in the Northern Territory one becomes aware of the 13 Traditional Seasons in Nauiyu Country and there are 11 in Yolngu Country..These seasons are intricately understood by Communities in each of Australia’s many many individual Aboriginal countries

As the Foreword says :

”Imagine if the first settlers had understood the concept of hunting certain species only at particular times of the year, or Wirrimbirra, sanctuary areas where hunting was prohibited ..So many species could havebeen saved from extinction, our rivers wetlands, red cedar forests and swamps protected.”

Frances provides an in depth description of the many cycles that govern nature, the Gamaruwamumu or Times of Day, The Annual Cycle, The Mudong Cycle 11-12 years and the Garuwanga Cycle which stretches over the millenia . As they say, change is the only constant.

For those of us living in Australia it is so important that we understand the cycles that affect this land and all of us in it.