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Gori- Illa came from the far south from near Melbourne and began to travel north. He stopped to make a
fire to keep warm overnight and the next morning he put the fire out and continued on his journey. He
failed to see that the embers were still burning and it ignited a coal seam which is still burning to this day.
Gori- Illa noticed the country he was travelling through was very flat so he stuck out the huge scales along
his body to gouge out the earth. The earth and rocks pushed out to the sides became the mountains and
the grooves he left became the rivers. At certain places he would stop and crawl around in a circle thereby
creating the lakes.
As he continued to travel north he would sometimes come across humans and would listen if they were
using their correct language and dance. If not he would teach them and also how to paint up for
ceremony.
Soon he reached far North Queensland and lay down and went to sleep. He was soon awoken by laughter
and funny noises. “Ah” he said, these are my people but they do not know their language and are doing
the wrong dance. He began to teach his people how to paint up and dance and that they should always
wear cockatoo feathers and leaf. He then taught them their proper language, Gu Gu Yalanji.
Much time at passed until one day Gori-Illa broke one of the laws he had set down for his people to live by.
The punishment he was given badly wounded him and he crawled away to lie in the sun in the hope that
his wounds would heal. Instead his body began to harden and turn into stone and today you can see Gori-
Illa all curled up with his gigantic eyes and head, still watching over the land. The Quinkans Imjim and
Dthimmuru who are the keepers and watchers of the people make sure that laws and traditions are
followed.
