During NAIDOC week we went to the Wangaratta Information Centre to find out about the Pangerang people (also spelt Bangerang or Pbangerang) whose country we now live in and where we love to walk.
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We bought a couple of books and collected brochures, which have been very educational.
Pangerang country stretched from Echuca, across the Murray into the Riverina, back to Corowa and up to Beechworth, along the Great Divide and Strathbogie Ranges to Seymour, across to Kialla and Tongala plus everywhere in between including Benalla and Wangaratta.
Day Trips: Artistic adventures
The whole population was less than 2000, with maybe only a few hundred living in the Wangaratta area.
They were tall and handsome with straight black hair.
Goulburn squatter Edward Curr, wrote that the Pangerang were friendly and polite.
The main groups were the Wongatpan and Towroonban and several sub clans who shared similar customs, ceremonies and diets.
They married between clans and were often related by marriage to the Wiradjuri people from north of the Murray.
Their diet included fish, turtles, ducks, birds, moths, yams, berries and meat.
This list is only indicative, but it was interesting to learn that clams and crayfish were plentiful.
According to Wendy Mitchell it was primarily a healthy plant-based diet.
Day Trips: Myrtleford via Milawa
Traditional methods of trapping and catching fish and animals were passed from generation to generation and were quite ingenious, especially their use of nets.
On windless days boys with firesticks spread out to form half circles leaving an escape gap for themselves or animals should conditions change.
Gradually they burnt a large circle, then burnt the gaps between each small circle without fear of creating a major disaster.
This method cleared dry, inedible undergrowth and prevented fires caused by nature.
It enriched the soil with potash and minerals causing sweet regrowth to entice animals that provided dinner.
Some plants, including wattles, need fire to germinate their seeds.
If need be, a bark canoe could be made in half an hour, but those made with greater care could support small fires in the bow so that fish and ducks could be caught and eaten immediately.
They were up to 20 feet long and capable of carrying five adults.
The Pangarang people moved almost daily within their clan area, so food supply was not over eaten.
Riverlands and hills were important.
The Wangaratta area in particular, because it was the meeting place of the King and Ovens Rivers and surrounded by hills.
Day Trips: One thing leads to another
The highest hills were manned daily, so smoke signals could give warning of friendly or unwelcome visitors.
I am not sure what the name means, but George Faithful was the squatter who named his large ‘property’ on the Oxley Plains Wangaratta in 1838.
He arrived after encouraging reports by explorers Hume and Hovell in 1824 and Major Mitchell in 1836. His story is for another day.
The Warby Ranges were named after squatter John Warby who arrived in 1844.
What we have learnt about the Wangaratta Parangerang people is largely due to Freddie Dowling who is of Pangarang decent and raised by the Wiradjuri people.
He wrote that Mary Jane Milawa was the last member of his people in the Wangaratta district.
She died in November 1888 aged 60 and was buried in Wangaratta Cemetery.
There are another 13 marked graves including King Gin Boralma's (1871) and many unmarked graves.
Armed with the Bullawah Cultural Trail brochure and its associated Bush Tucker Garden brochure, we went to Apex Park north of the Ovens bridge, to start the 2.4 km trail.
We loved walking beside the river with its beautiful shady red river gums, but at present take your mosquito spray.
We felt we were walking in old footsteps.
The trail is beautifully created with five wonderful sculptures and bollards giving insightful information.
The Bush Tucker Garden is clearly divided into three sections: fibre, edible and medicine and the brochure gives good information.
On completion of our walk we were spoilt with choice of many restaurants beside the river.
Another great day trip. We are wanting to learn more.
- Suzie Pearce
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