Sail Away with CRYC
Clarence River Yacht Club (CRYC) operates out of Grafton, the major town on the Clarence River in Northern NSW, Australia.
Join for some great camaraderie, to learn some new skills, plus all the benefits that membership brings.
Need more information? Email the Club Secretary on secretary@cryc.com.au or call Margy on 0439 692 140
Download the Mariners Guide to the Clarence River Clarence Cruising Guide in which you will find the story of Dirrangun, along with plenty of information useful for your sailing enjoyment.
The Dreamtime creation story of the Clarence River has many nuances and variations, but here’s a simple version of events.
Dirrangun lived at the foothills of the mountains. This old woman had great power, but wasn’t exactly known for her generosity. Every day, she would go up the mountain to the special waterhole that only she knew of, to quench her thirst.
One day, while not feeling well, she asked a strapping young bloke – a bulagaan – to pop up the mountain and fetch her water for her, warning him, “don’t drink my water, and don’t tell a soul where it is.”
When the bulagaan reached the waterhole, he saw that Dirrangun had built a rock wall, stopping the water from flowing down the mountain as it should have, thus depriving everyone of the water they deserved.
Being a fair-minded bulagaan, he decided to clear the rocks away, and the water started rushing down the mountain.
Dirrangun heard the water flowing and sprung into action, desperately trying to stop the water’s flow. She created mountains and landmarks and put them in the water’s path, but the river had gained too much momentum and strength, so it simply went around, or over, whatever she placed in its way.
So, all the landmarks and features the mighty Clarence weaves around and through – The Gorge, Susan Island, Elizabeth Island, The Pinnacles at Maclean, and so on – they were all created by Dirrangun.
And even when the river reached the coast, Dirrangun was still fighting: she turned herself to stone, but the river just went over her and emptied out to the sea. The last thing she did was curse the river, turning it to salt water, so no one else could drink it.
Dirrangun certainly wasn’t one for sharing!
*Sincere thanks to legendary Yaegl Elder, Uncle Ron Heron for giving this
iteration of the story his tick of approval.
