[Brinty]

The house we first rented in Australia was located in an area named the Glasshouse Mountains not far from Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo.
The names of the main characters are below them.
Tibrogargan . . . . . . . . . . . . .Coonowrin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beerwah

There is an Aboriginal story about these mountains which impressed me so much that I wrote the following poem:

As we travel past them daily on our journeys to and fro
The Glasshouse Mountains seem to hint of things that we should know.
Why does Coonowrin hang his head in shame which never ended?
And why is Beerwah such a shape, so big and so distended?

Why does father Tibrogargan hunch there frowning out to sea
With his back turned on the coubtryside and on his own fam'ly?
The answers when I found them out, just thrilled me through and through
And if you care to spend the time, I'll spin the yarn to you.

It seems that many years ago, back in the Dreamtime days
When Gods could walk upon this land with no pollution haze
That mountains moved and ocean waves could wander as they chose
'Twas then this legend came to life and here's the way it goes.

Proud Tibrogargan's family was the apple of his eye.
They were faithful and obedient and never a day went by
That he didn't thank his stars above or the Gods that walked his land
For his family was the best there was from the coast to the desert sand.

But came the day when all that changed and he was left ashamed
Of one who was his pride and joy; the one he had first named.
"Oh Coonowrin! Oh Coonowrin! How could you do this thing?
Oh Coonowrin! Oh Coonowrin! What shame to me you bring."

One day while Tibrogargan had been gazing out to sea
He saw the waters rising high and he decided then to flee.
He called to all his children, to hurry up and run
And as he gathered up the babies he told his eldest son,

"Go help your mother Beerwah, guide her to higher ground
For the water's quickly coming in, soon dry land will not be found."
But Coonowrin was filled with fear and ran off with a moan
Saying, "Beerwar's bigger than all of us, she'll make it on her own."

With Beerburrum, Coochin, and the Tunbubudla twins
With Ngun Ngun, and Tibberoowuccum, father tried to save their skins.
As he headed back for Elimbah and Miketeebumulgrai
He saw Beerwah abandoned and a rage swept him away.

He grabbed his hefty mulga club and took off after Coonowrin
And as the water swirled around he caught him by the shin.
"Oh Coonowrin! Oh Coonowrin! What are you boy? A coward?"
And Coonowrin just lay there while above him father towered.

"Of course your mother's big my boy! For she's again with child
And you ran away to save yourself! By God you make me wild!
You've shamed our name and when you die your bones the crows shall peck."
And Tibrogargan swung his club and broke Coonowrin's neck.

Tibrogargan so dejected sits gazing out to sea.
Coonowrin tried to apologise but his father couldn't see
How any son of his could do what Coonowrin had done.
"Don't come to me for sympathy! As a coward you'll get none!"

Coonowrin's own family all turned their backs upon him
Even Round, so small and fat and Wild Horse, both ignored him.
"Oh Coonowrin! Oh Coonowrin! The shame that you have brought us
Will live for ever, ever more that's why it's so distraught us."

Coonowrin hung his head in shame and still does to this day.
His tears still flow in numerous streams as they head out t'ward the bay.
Mother Beerwah's still with child because, you understand
It takes a mountain quite a while to populate the land.

So there they are for all to see, the magic Glasshouse Mountains
And I sometimes think as I pass by, that I hear distant fountains
While little mountains laugh and play and shake the ground like thunder.
I'm filled with awe each time I look at Beerwah and I wonder

If she gave birth before this earth is finally blown asunder
By human beings with atom bombs and other useless lumber
Would Tibrogargan change his mind and face his son again
And gently kiss away the hurt and his self esteem regain?

If this some day should come to pass, and I like to think it may
Just imagine Coonowrin's joy when he hears his father say,
"Oh Coonowrin! Please forgive me. How could I've had that thought?
Oh Coonowrin! Please forgive me. What shame to you I brought."