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Mary-Anne
garden sage
Australia
10809 Posts |
 Posted - 29/08/2008 : 15:00:16
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Does anyone know what Wonga wonga means or what it stands for you see a couple of my American/Canadian mates on line want to know and I have no idea seems they have fallen in love with this pic..
They love Aussie Flora and Fauna and commented on this pic.
I thought it may have had a aboriginal meaning but once again have spent heaps of time searching with no luck.
So any idea's girls..Thanks.
Friends are the flowers in the garden of life
Love Your Enemies... It Will Drive Them Nuts
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The Estate
head gardener
Australia
3676 Posts |
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Mary-Anne
garden sage
Australia
10809 Posts |
Posted - 29/08/2008 : 15:28:38
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Yes that is the right Plant being the first one when you search Cheryl but no where on that link does it say what Wonga wonga means. I told them about Pandora's box and the botanical name but they want to know what Wonga wonga means..
Thanks for your trouble though..
Friends are the flowers in the garden of life
Love Your Enemies... It Will Drive Them Nuts |
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Gail
garden sage
Australia
7707 Posts |
Posted - 29/08/2008 : 18:13:44
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I haven't found much but I'm not sure it is an aboriginal word. There is a dreamtime story about wonga pigeons and red waratah flowers but I also found that an aboriginal word for Wonga-wonga pigeon is Waukquagan. Also this - Dundalli (who was a great warrior) is an Aboriginal word for the wonga-wonga pigeon.
I also found this though not much help -
In the Central and Western Deserts the Wonga-wonga vine (Pandorea pandorana) was regarded as the best wood for woomera-cast spears because of its high flexibility. In fact, the mechanical properties of this woody vine were so suitable that short pieces were spliced together if long ones were not available (Cleland and Tindale 1959:139). It was such an important species that a group of mythological women, who had slender and flexible bodies, was named after it (Strehlow 1971:469). Since the mechanical properties of Pandorea pandorana match the requirements of the woomera so well and as it appears to have no other value for artefacts it can be argued, at least tentatively, that the exploitation of this species began when spearthrowers came into common use in the desert.
I'm being called so have to go now but will look again later.
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is knowing not to use it in a fruit salad.
A ounce of common sense is worth more than a ton of intelligence.
Gail, near Gympie, Qld |
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Mary-Anne
garden sage
Australia
10809 Posts |
Posted - 29/08/2008 : 21:08:01
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Thats very interesting Gail I am amazed at how you comes across all the answers for us.
Thanks again..
Friends are the flowers in the garden of life
Love Your Enemies... It Will Drive Them Nuts |
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lorraine
assistant gardener
Australia
144 Posts |
Posted - 29/08/2008 : 21:33:26
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found this
encarta.msn.com/dictionary_561548404/wonga-wonga.html
might help
down towards the bottom it says an early aboriginal language |
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Mary-Anne
garden sage
Australia
10809 Posts |
Posted - 29/08/2008 : 22:43:36
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Thanks Lorraine I found it.
Must have something to do with the wonga pigeon then.
Friends are the flowers in the garden of life
Love Your Enemies... It Will Drive Them Nuts |
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lorraine
assistant gardener
Australia
144 Posts |
Posted - 30/08/2008 : 09:41:18
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| yes it seems so there are quite a few pages on google about the wonga wonga vine and pigeon |
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Mary-Anne
garden sage
Australia
10809 Posts |
Posted - 30/08/2008 : 10:07:28
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Yes I notice that also Lorraine, only problem when searching you click on another link and read that, then again and sometimes it takes you away from the subject you want, but so interesting all the same and its good to know all these things..
Friends are the flowers in the garden of life
Love Your Enemies... It Will Drive Them Nuts |
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