| My painting is a view of The Pinnacle, which is located in the Border Ranges, from the North Pumpenbil Creek, which runs at the bottom of my property in the Northern Rivers district of New South Wales.
I understand that the Pinnacle’s original name is Coowarragum. However, I have been unable to ascertain this. Since the last ice age, Bundjalung Aboriginal people have roamed the northern rivers. Border Ranges is the traditional home of the Galibal language group of the Bundjalung Aboriginal people. I have been told that the place is one of the most significant ritual sites associated with the Rainbow Serpent, Warrazum, of the Women’s Water Lore.
I am also interested to know of the significance of the Wedge-Tailed Eagle. I have read that, long ago Bunjil, the Wedge-Tailed Eagle, was a very powerful man. He was the headman of the Kulin. Bunjil had two wives and a son whose name was Binbeal, the Rainbow, whose wife was the second bow, sometimes seen showing fainter than the first.
I love these stories and hope that my painting reflects the awe I felt while looking at the Pinnacle early one morning and spotting these magnificent birds soar high in the sky.
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