A local indigenous author launched her children’s book, Marngrook: the long ago story of Aussie Rules in Horsham yesterday.
This is the first book for traditional owner Titta Secombe, a Gunditj-Mara woman, who was born in Horsham and has lived there and in the Grampians her whole life.
Her book tells the story of how Australian Rules came about.
The story is, that it developed from Marngrook, a ball game played by Aboriginal people more than 150 years ago in North Western Victoria.
The book is set in the Grampians and based on a story that Titta has been listening to since she was a child.
This fictionalized story of Marngrook takes place in the Grampians region at the foot of Duwul, the highest mountain in the region and home to the Djab Wurrung and Jardwadjali clans.
The story begins when the clan elder Wawi notices that his son Jaar and other children only have old toys to play with, so he goes for a walk to see what he can find. He comes across a ring tailed possum and has an idea. He kills it, skins it, stuffs it with emu feathers, moulds it into the shape of an emu egg and sews it up with a tendon from a kangaroo tail and so the children all start playing with the ball.
The story continues with Jarra kicking the ball out into the bush and eventually getting lost. He then finds himself dealing with the consequences of not listening to his elders.
I spoke with Titta Secombe about her book and the inspiration behind the story.
If you would like a copy of this book it is available online or at Redrock Books and Gallery, Firebrace St, Horsham
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