The Murray Bridge Bunyip

The Mulyawonk (Bunyip).
Mulyawonk (pronounced Mool-ya-wonk).

To the Ngarrindjeri people The Bunyip is known as The Mulyawonk.

Whilst Mulyawonk Dreaming may vary from Lakalinyeri (Clan) to Lakalinyeri (clan), Ngarrindjeri Mulyawonk Dreaming in part says,

In times long ago there lived a Ngarrindjeri Ko:ni (man) who was greedy, catching far too many fish than he needed to.

The Elders were not happy with this selfish man who did not respect the Ngarrindjeri laws of fishing.

The Elders were so angry with this man that as a punishment they turned him into the Mulyawonk - a half fish, half man creature and banishing him to the river forever.

Ngarrindjeri children and told never to swim alone or to take more fish than you can eat from the river and lakes.

If you do swim alone or are greedy in taking too many fish, then the Mulyawomk will get you.

This story teaches children water safety and respect for the fish of the River and Lakes.

One home of the Mulyawonk is in a river cave near Tailem Bend.

The word Bunyip has its origins from the Wemba-Wemba or Wergaia language of Aboriginal people of South-Eastern Australia.

It can be said that during European o ccupation, Aboriginal people warned Europeans of the dangers or river and lake swimming and that certain areas were prohibited to visit, for if you did, you would fall victim to a Bunyip (the Mulyawonk on Ngarrindjeri Ruwi (land)).