Ngarrindjeri Ruwe Dreaming

Cedric Varcoe has painted since he was child. His works are informed by stories of Country and his family’s tradition of painting. 

‘In the Dreamtime of Ngarrindjeri Country, Ngurunderi made our Ruwe (Country). 

The Murray River used to be a small stream. Ngurunderi travelled down the Murray in his canoe, through what is now Ngarrindjeri Country.  Ngurunderi was looking for his two wives who had run away from him to follow Pondi. Pondi was the big Murray Cod, who had created the twists and turns of the river when sweeping his huge tail from side to side. Ngurunderi was trying to spear Pondi all the way along his journey.  

When they reached Lake Alexandrina, Ngurunderi’s brother in law, Nepele, helped spear and kill Pondi. Ngurunderi cut Pondi into many pieces, each piece creating a new species of fish that now populates the river system.  

Ngurunderi travelled with his family, who also played an important part in the creation of Ngarrindjeri Country. Ngurunderi taught them lore, dance, song, how to hunt and everything they needed to survive.  

Ngurunderi made the rain that feeds the river and the country. With the rain came the rainbow, which can be seen in this painting. Ngurunderi also made the Ngarrindjeri people, who live along and around the Murray River, the Coorong region and across to Cape Jervis and the southern regions of what is now Adelaide.’ - Cedric Varcoe