Explore The Meaning of Tiddalick The Frog in Australian Indigenous Stories

A creation narrative from Australian Indigenous Dreaming Stories is the story of Tiddalick the Frog (or Tiddalik). In addition to being a significant Dreamtime tale, the legend of Tiddalik has been the topic of several well-known contemporary children's novels. The name "Molok" is used for Tiddalik in various Aboriginal language groups.

The whole story of Tiddalick The Frog

The story begins

Tiddalick the Frog

A frog named Tiddalick used to reside in the Dreamtime long ago.

The biggest frog in the entire globe was called Tiddalick. He awoke one very hot morning feeling really thirsty and immediately began to sip the fresh water. He continued to drink until there was no more fresh water left in the entire billabong!

The billabong was completely dried up when the other animals went there in the morning to get their morning drink. They were devastated by this.

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Make a plan

They were aware that the frog Tiddalick had drank all the water. They were aware that a strategy for recovering the water was necessary, but they were at a loss for words. They thought and thought and thought until they came to the conclusion that getting Tiddalick to laugh was the best approach to getting the water back. If they could get him to chuckle, all of his salivae would flow out and back into the billabong.

Tiddalik 

The echidna was the first creature to attempt to make him laugh. She compacted herself into a little ball, then rolled down the billabong's bank like a bowling ball! The emu and the kangaroo both laughed, but Tiddalick didn't.

The wombat was the next creature to attempt to make Tiddalick laugh. Until he collapsed in the dirt, the wombat stood up on his hind legs and danced in a circle. The Galah and the goanna both laughed, but Tiddalick did not.

The kookaburra was the animal that tried to make the frog Tiddalick laugh next. She narrated her funniest anecdote while seated on a branch not far from Tiddalick. She started laughing out loud because it was so funny! Tiddalick didn't laugh, though. He simply sat there, all the water in his large belly.

The last character to appear

The snake ultimately made the decision to make Tiddalick laugh. She began to wriggle and squirm all over the ground as she danced endlessly, eventually tying herself up. She repeatedly tried to untie herself but couldn't since the knot was so tight.

Tiddalik 

Tiddalick chuckled a little as she observed the frog Tiddalick fumble around while attempting to knot herself. That tiniest chuckle developed into a stomach rumble and then into a huge belly laugh! The billabong was once again filled with water as it gushed out of his mouth.

As they all gulped down large amounts of water to relieve their thirst, the animals all leaped with delight.

Another ending

The ancient tale ends in an environmental catastrophe. However, the current version has a joyful ending, with water being returned for everyone to use. The flood left some people stuck on islands and many more drowning. Borun the pelican saved those who were trapped, and the story's conclusion explains how the bird's all-black feathers later turned a blend of black and white.

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What can we take away from Tiddalick The Frog story?

Tiddalick the Frog

The Frog Tiddalik tale can be used to teach kids a variety of things, including:

• The value of our water supplies and the significance of our ecosystem.
• The worth of our Elders and the necessity of paying attention to people whose life experiences might guide our judgments.
• Not being greedy or selfish, and sharing.
• The value of collaboration.

Origins of Tiddalick The Frog

This tale can be found all over Australia. Still, it is frequently credited to the Gunai Kurnai people of South Gippsland, Victoria, and it has gained popularity worldwide since it was first printed.

In Warwick, Queensland, there is a statue honoring Tiddalik. Several versions of the tale, which originated with the Gunai Kurnai people at Port Albert, some 225 kilometers southeast of Melbourne, were documented by amateur ethnographers in the late nineteenth century.

Frog in Warwick Queensland

The Frog Tiddalick created the region's bays, estuaries, inlets, and islands according to ancient legend. The story's core has evolved over time, with other creatures now able to make Tiddalik laugh and numerous contemporary versions diverging from those from the nineteenth century.

The Water-Holding Frog, which is currently attributed to Tiddalik, is not present in the region where the legend is said to have originated. It is possible that Tiddalik either refers to a distinct frog or is a remembrance of a time, 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, when the topography was sufficiently altered for the frog's range to extend to the South Gippsland.

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