Aboriginal history:
Loders Creek was originally known
as Biggera. In the language of the original Aboriginal people, Biggera means
iron bark - a tree that grew abundantly in the area. This name has since been
given to the creek north of Loders Creek.
The following story comes from
the Gombemberri people and is reproduced courtesy of the Kalwun Development
Corporation Limited.
Gowonda
Dolphins, which can still
be seen in the Broadwater, had a special relationship with the Gombemberri.
They drove schools of fish into shallow water to be netted or speared by fishermen.
For children dolphins meant safety because they knew they were protected from
sharks when dolphins were nearby.
It is said that dolphins
were trained by Gowonda, a legendary Gombemberri who lived in the Nerang valley.
He was a striking figure
- big, strong, and easily recognized by his long white hair. His ability to
train hunting dogs was renown. At his commands his dogs would round up wallabies
and kangaroos and drive them toward hunters.
Gowonda lived a happy life,
but eventually he grew old and died, causing great sorrow among the Gombemberri.
But their sadness soon turned
to joy. Some children, playing on the beach near Southport, saw a dolphin
swimming in the waves close to shore.
When they looked closer they
realized it was their beloved Gowonda. He had returned as a dolphin., and
in place of his long white hair he now had a white fin.
Just as he had taught his
dogs to hunt, he was hard at work teaching the dolphins how to round up fish
for his people.
Gowonda's descendants can
be seen today - among every school of dolphins they are the leaders, and some
have white fins just like Gowonda.
Dolphins were sacred to the
Gombemberri and other coastal people and could not be harmed in any way.
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