The meaning of our Dhurga name

Naming a company can be as easy as an epiphany that arrives as a gift in the night - or a confusing, delirious head-mess! I’m regretful to say it was the latter. I suppose now I think back at it - the original names did arrive easily which were Bodalla Conservation Burial and Amongst the Trees. After a few comments on “The Name” I began the long and arduous journey of finding a new name. I had plenty of time - a decade of approvals for this development gave me the luxury to ponder, market research, dream - we came up with over 250 names … all of which didn’t seem right.

A few people had suggested using the local language of the Yuin people called the Dhurga language as my husband is Yuin. It was not a box I had wanted to open - did I have the right to use the local Yuin language, was it the right or wrong thing to do? - this added to another few months of deliberation!

BUT THEN - was it right to adopt another English-Latin-Colonial name? Wasn’t that more disrespectful to the people who have lived here since the beginning of time (or way before that.) I picked up “The Dhurga Dictionary” which is written and taught by the respected Elder Patricia Ellis and taught in the community by the respected Elder Ms Kerry Boyenga. The name I liked was for the Black Cockatoo - Nowra or Nou-woo-ro… which is linked to a Dreamtime story where a white cockatoo was transformed into a black cockatoo after flying through volcanic fire, however that was going to add confusion to the town of Nowra that is located only two hours north of Bodalla.

And then it popped out - Walawaani which means Safe Journey - did it feel right in my head? No.. it felt much deeper than that… it felt completely right from my core. It felt warm and calm and it meant that the way of the Yuin people was the right way - the Walawaani Way - for those who respected and lived with our environment and nature. For those who did not use toxic coffins with glues and plastics to bury their loved ones, they returned their family naturally and graceful back to the sand and soil.

I then wrote the Aboriginal Land Councils and also spoke to four elders in the area. So far it’s been all positive - but one person did write something on my Facebook, and I got worried - I went to find one of the Elders to speak of my worry of using their beautiful language and she said to me this; “You people worry about this more than us, we want you to use our language so we keep it alive.” This made me feel better.

Does Walawaani Way mean safe journey in regards to death? Well the answer is no, as this is not the meaning of the Yuin people in regard to this. However, it was used as a way to say hello and have a safe journey - whether I see you tomorrow or next season - whenever that will be - a continuation of time and journey. That’s what Walawaani Way is - it’s not a structured “hello” and “good-bye” it’s a hello and have a safe journey and I’ll see you when I do - and that’s what I feel is beautiful about the name.

Fiona McCuaig - Founder of Walawaani Way