Published: 4 March 2023

This regular column, that features in Council's quarterly print newsletter, introduces dhurga words and meanings, with help from our Aboriginal Advisory Committee. dhurga is the language traditionally spoken by the Yuin people – including local walbanja and brindja Yuin – from south of Nowra to Narooma and west to Braidwood.

With our recent story on cultural burning, it seems right to introduce the dhurga word for firestick, which is dundhun, and also the term ganandhimila-nj, which means we learn.

In written dhurga, subject markers are preceded by a hyphen. For example:

• -ga – I
• -ng – we two (you and I)
• -ngala – we two (that person and I, but not you)
• -nj – we three or more (including you)
• -nga - we three or more (but not you).

The subject marker follows the verb. So adding a subject to the dhurga word for learn, ganandhimila we have:

• Ganandhimila-ga – I learn
• Ganandhimila-ng – you and I learn
• Ganandhimila-nj – we learn.

Eurobodalla Libraries and local bookshops have copies of The Dhurga Dictionary and Learner’s Grammar, authored by locals Trish Ellis, Kerry Boyenga and Waine Donovan.

• This story was first published in Council’s quarterly newsletter for residents, Living in Eurobodalla. A printed edition is delivered to the shire’s 26,000 households.

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