Eloi Jerra (Goanna) Dreaming with Dreamtime Story Two-Tone Coffee Mug

ELOI JERRA (goanna) DREAMING According to Dreamtime there was a great warrior called Tummuddie who lived at the edge of the great desert. He spent his life looking after the desert. Making sure everyone and everything who lived there was safe. He ensured that the desert lands stayed clean and calm, especially where the messy emu’s lived.   As the warrior’s life was coming to an end the Father Spirit Baiame called him to the ancient lands of Alcheringa. The home of his family and warriors gone before him. However the warrior refused to leave. He was not ready to leave his desert.   Tummuddie ran into the desert and endeavoured to hide himself away from the spirits that came to collect him. He tried to hide in an emu’s nest, but it was too messy. Eventually he lay down and covered himself with sand near some rocks.   Baiame thought about the situation and feeling sorry for the old warrior, and greatful for his lifelong work in the desert, decided to turn Tummuddie into the Eloi Jerra (the great sand goanna). Tummuddie emerged from beneath the sand and was very happy with his new form. He rushed to a billabong on the edge of the desert to view himself. He looked upon his now long body and strong tail. He looked up his new majestic head and strong claws. A tear came to his eyes and as it dropped to the sand, a plant began to grow. Today we call this plant salt bush. Salt bush became the plant that many animals and reptiles of the desert eat when food is scarce.   Tummuddie still lives in the great desert and he is still making sure that everyone is safe, even the messy emu’s. If you should ever visit the desert, and if you are lucky, you will see Tummuddie resting just beneath a thin layer of sand, just in case the spirits are still on the look out for him.