In 2023, Northern Health and Kilmore District Health amalgamated, to care for the growing and diverse needs of the northern catchment, together. This amalgamation enabled improved access to care for our patients in the Northern Growth Corridor – one of Victoria’s fastest growing regions.

Kilmore District Health is on the land of the Taungurung people. As part of our NAIDOC Week celebrations, we asked Bonnie Cavanagh, Chief Operating Officer, (Advocacy and Enablement Division),Taungurung Land and Waters Council to share with our readers, its history and culture.

Tell us firstly about the Taungurung people and their land?

Taungurung culture is just as alive today as it was over 65,000 years ago. To this day, Elders assist in teaching the younger generations culture, history, and language and furthering their knowledge and appreciation of their heritage as the rightful custodians of the Taungurung lands in Central Victoria. Our traditional lands occupy a large portion of Central Victoria with beautiful Taungurung Country encompassing the area between the upper reaches of the Goulburn River and its tributaries north of the Dividing Range. From the Campaspe River to Kilmore in the west, eastwards to Mount Beauty, from Benalla in the north down to the top of the Great Dividing Range.

Country is all encompassing. It is our mother, a living entity and needs to be cared for from the skies and waters to the roots in the earth. Country looks after us all in many ways, so long as we look after her. We have clear roles and responsibilities within our own clans for the care and protection of each other, our culture and Country, including food and water sources.

Tell us how the resources of the land were used?

As seasons changed, the mob would move around to ensure safety but also access to resources which would include emus, kangaroos, possums, wombats and freshwater fish.

One of our staple bush tucker foods is the tubers of the Murnong (Yam Daisy). The easiest time to find the tubers are in the summer when the plant is in flower and its bright yellow flowers clothe the tops of the ranges.

In the springtime, we would travel to the Alpine peaks to feast on the Bogong Moth. These moths are found seasonally at high elevations, sheltered within the deep crevices between huge masses of granite rocks.

 How are the Taungurung people affiliated with the neighbouring tribes, especially the Wurundjeri people?

We are closely affiliated with neighbouring mob, through language, ceremonies and kinship ties. Taungurung, along with Wurundjeri-Woiwurrung, Boonwurrung, Wathaurung, and Dja Dja Wurrung people form the Kulin Nation.

Tell us about the clan groups that Taungurung People identify with? 

The nine clans of Taungurung are;

• Budhera-bulok (Budjil) – located on the Goulburn River at Seymour
• Leuk-Yilam (Waang) – located near Kilmore
• Mum-mum-Yilam (Budjil) – lived west of the Campaspe River, and northwest of Mitchellstown
• Naterrak-bulok (Waang) – west of the Goulburn River near Seymour
• Nira-bulok (Waang) – meaning ‘Cave’, Kilmore
• Waring-Yilam-bulok (Bundjil) – junction of the Yea River and Goulburn River
• Yaran-Yilam-bulok (Bundjil)  – east side of the Goulburn River between Seymour and Mitchellstown
• Yiran-Yilam-bulok(Bundjil) – located on the Broken River above and below Benalla
• Yawang-Yilam-bulok (Waang) – located at Alexandra and Mansfield.

Taungurung moieties (moiety meaning ‘half’ in Latin), are Bundjil (Wedge Tail Eagle) and Waang (Crow) with each clan group identifying with either moiety.