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InAustralian Aboriginal mythology (specificallyBundjalung, from the northernNew South Wales coast and South-EastQueensland)Dirawong is agoannaAncestral Being who taught humans how to live on the land, as well as important ceremonies and rituals. Dirawong is known as abenevolent protector of its people from theRainbow Serpent. Dirawong'sgender is ambiguous.
Dirawong and the Rainbow Serpent together created parts of theRichmond River,Goanna Headland,Snake Island, andPelican Island. In Aboriginal mythology, a deposit ofred ochre on top of Goanna Headland is believed to have originated from the wound where the Rainbow Serpent bit Dirawong duringthe Dreaming.
Dirawong is also believed to have been transformed into, and still resides within, the Goanna Headland.
Dirawong is associated with rain, and there is a rain cave on Goanna Headland where theelders of the Bundjalung people went in the past to organiseceremonies for rain. Dirawong is also associated with birds and snakes.
Bundjalungoral literature tells of a fight between Dirawong and the Rainbow Serpent, which created theBungawalbin River, theEvans River, Pelican Island, Snake Island, other islands in the Evans River, and also an island at an unknown location in thePacific Ocean.
In the Bundjalung story, aweeum ("cleverman", "man of high degree of initiation" or "man with great powers") named Nyimbunji from the area known asBungawalbin calls on Dirawong to help protect ayabbra (bird) from the Rainbow Serpent.
Dirawong chases the Rainbow Serpent from inland eastward towards the coast, forming parts of theRichmond River as they go. At Maniworkan (or the town ofWoodburn, New South Wales) they leave the Richmond River and kept on going east. Halfway down theEvans River, Dirawong catches the Rainbow Serpent. The Rainbow Serpent turns around and bites Dirawong on the head. Dirawong then withdraws from the battle in order to eat some herbs to recover from the snakebite. A deposit ofred ochre at Goanna Headland is said to originate from the wound where the Rainbow Serpent bit Dirawong.
Meanwhile, Rainbow Serpent reaches Evans Head. Dirawong is nowhere to be seen, so Rainbow Serpent decides to go back west. He then goes into the Evans River and coils himself around, creating Snake Island. As he turns, his body makes a larger island in the river, now known asPelican Island.
When Rainbow Serpent spots Dirawong heading towards him, he quickly turns, and this time keeps going until he reaches Burraga (theTasman Sea), Here he transforms himself into an island so Dirawong cannot recognise him.
When Dirawong reaches the coast at Evans Head, he lies down down next to the coast, facing the Burraga, waiting for Rainbow Serpent to come back.[1]