Animals of the Dreaming – One of Lane Cove’s Favourite Events

Animals of the Dreaming is one of Lane Cove’s favourite events.  The Taronga Zoomobile pays a visit to the Lane Cove Plaza with Indigenous elder Col Hardy.

This year, Animals of the Dreaming will be in the Lane Cove Plaza on Saturday 24 June, 10:00 am – 11:00 am.  It’s a free event.

Taronga Zoo describes Animals of the Dreaming as follows:

“Meet amazing native animals, each with their own special character. Hear stories and songs about native animals and the Dreamtime as told by Brewarrina Aboriginal Elder Col Hardy OAM.

Animals of the Dreaming Zoomobile is an inspiring program combining two fascinating aspects of unique Australia – native animals and the Dreamtime. This program is delivered by Brewarrina Elder, Colin Hardy OAM and supported by our education staff.

Col Hardy is the recipient of the Order of Australia, for recognition of his contribution to the community over many years. Col has also been recognised for his musical talent through the Tamworth Country Music Festival’s ‘Golden Guitar’ award.

It is Zoomobile’s honour to have Col co-present Animals of the Dreaming, delivering an engaging experience of storytelling and music and introducing participants to a wide variety of unique and wonderful animals, such as a frog, possum, lizard, snake, turtle or echidna.”

Our Cover Photo is Uncle Col in action – photo source: Taronga Zoo

One guest contributor Gemma Quartuccio told us about a previous Animal and the Dreamings event.  Take it away, Gemma…

Animals of the Dreamings

Each year Lane Cove Council works with Taronga Zoo to bring to the local community a presentation called Animals of the Dreamings by Indigenous elder Col Hardy. Col, or Uncle Col, will talk about the different Indigenous nations that are throughout Australia, which total over 200.

He speaks about the importance of all people needing to look after both each other and the animals. 

Col takes the crowd on a journey through the Dreamings stating that “everything is put on this planet for a reason, even the bad things”. He speaks about how the Dreamings go back to when time was created and began with the story of the rainbow serpent, which is often linked to stories about land and water.

There is also a display of different boomerangs, one of which dates back 190 years, and other Indigenous tools and the blade of a Saw Fish who was missing a tooth! The story that Col’s ancestors have passed down is that the Saw Fish had had a toothache before it had died, and that is why it is missing its tooth – because it had broken off.

Col also songs about different animals that feature in Dreaming stories and are significant to Indigenous culture. There are songs about termites and how they are vital to eat the wood and bark to help make didgeridoos, Dreaming stories about the Rainbow Serpent and Tiddalick the Frog, and interactive discussions about the animals that feature in them.

Ryan brought from Taronga Zoo came with Yarra, a Diamond Python, and spoke about snake safety.

He also brought with him a Shingle Back Lizard named Kimba, a white lip tree frog named Zinky (because his lips make him look like he has zinc on them!), as well as an echidna. 

Thank you to Gemma, our Guest Blogger – she highly recommends you see the Zoomobile event.  Gemma was accompanied by her own roving reporter Lex!!  See below.

Help Support Local and Independent News