Wurru Wurru Biik Djirringu – Sky Country of Lightning

The traditional language of the Wurundjeri People is Woi-Wurrung. In the Woi-Wurrung language, the name Wurundjeri is in two parts. ‘Wurun’ meaning the manna gum tree, and ‘djeri’, the white grub that lives in the tree – the witchetty grub. Manna gum leaves float across the sky symbolising deep respects to the traditional custodians of the lands and waterways in which Jemena operates – Wurundjeri Country.

Birrarung, the majestic river of mist and shadows weaves gently across country from its birthplace at the foothills of the Great Dividing Range, to the saltwater Bay of Naarm, the place known as Melbourne. This significant and sacred waterway was a vital food source and means of travel, and the meeting place for inter-clan trade and ceremonies. The flowing water represents our connection to energy and mother earth and the relationship we all have with this vital resource.

Campsites are depicted along the river; they are the arced shaped mounds representing the customer homes within the region that Jemena services. Trees along the waterways represent the growing strength of Jemena and symbolise the intricate root system beneath country linking its customers. A burst of lightning strikes from the sky above, a flicker of light represents its relationship to power and its likeness to the extensive network of tree roots symbolising the distribution of power.

Bunjil the Wedgetail Eagle is the great and mighty creator spirit for the Wurundjeri People and all the Kulin Tribes. He created the lands and sacred waterways and all the flowers, trees and animals. After his creation he took the clay from the earth and moulded it into his people.

He took the string from the stringy bark tree and used it for their hair, then he blew into their mouths so they could breathe. After this, Bunjil was tired. So, he asked Waa the Crow, the Keeper of the Wind and Water if he could open up his bag of wind, he was too tired to use his wings to fly.

Waa did as he was asked and opened up his bag, but the wind was small. Bunjil asked him to open wider for a bigger wind, so Waa did as he was asked and opened his bag wider creating a mighty and powerful whirly wind. It lifted Bunjil into the air and carried him high into the sky right up into the heavens where he became the stars. This is where he remains today watching over his beautiful creation.

In the Aboriginal way, a person is represented by the ‘U’ and ‘n’ symbol. From the bird’s eye view, this is the shape a person makes whilst sitting on the ground, knees crossed. People are shown around the interconnecting circles representing the many communities across Wurundjeri Country who are customers of Jemena. White dots around these circles symbolise Bunjil’s stars in the sky country representing light and power distributed by Jemena.

The large Gathering Circle along Birrarung is the meeting place of Jemena. This is the place where its community gather symbolising the commitment they share in delivering power to its customers, the broader community. It is the place where Bunjil circles from above in his sky country of lightning – wurru wurru biik djirringu.

Simone Thomson, a proud Wurundjeri and Yorta-Yorta woman