'Before people had heard of fire, they ate their food raw. In those days, giant kangaroos lived in the same land as the Wiradjuri tribe. The kangaroos were huge, over 10 feet tall, ate grass and leaves but didn’t like people and sometimes squashed them. The people were afraid. A brave young man, Wirroowaa, asked the powerful spirit call Byamee for help. First Wirroowaa had to prove his bravery by covering himself in white clay and doing a special dance. Although the clay could only be found where the kangaroos camped, Wirroowaa was successful. Byamee was pleased and blessed the clay. Byamee was pleased and blessed the clay. “Then Byamee caused the breeze to make two sticks rub together and burst into flame, starting a bushfire.” The fire chased away the kangaroos forever. “The people were very happy and now that they knew how to make fire by rubbing sticks together, the Wiradjuri never again had to eat raw food. These days the white clay is still sacred and the story of brave Wirroowaa is still told.”' (Publication summary)
