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• TLF-IDM006688

The pushing game of tha’an, similar in nature to tug-of-war, was played by young and old men living on the upper reaches of the Batavia River and at McDonnell in north Queensland. The ‘fun’ of the activity consisted mainly in balancing the pushing pole against the side of the body for a few minutes and then letting it fall ...

• TLF-IDM006591

As in various other cultures, stone skipping (throwing) along a surface of water was played by Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. On Dunk Island in Queensland, the throwing of cuttle-fish (krooghar) bones was observed. The bones were thrown along the surface of the water like ‘skipping stones’ and ...

• TLF-IDM006649

This rope-skipping game was played by Aboriginal children inhabiting the Riverina area between Victoria and New South Wales. This is a skipping game suitable for a large group of players. The Yulunga: Traditional Indigenous Games resource was developed to provide all Australians with a greater understanding and appreciation ...

• TLF-IDM006666

Water games and contests were played in all areas of Australia. In some parts of central Australia a frequent expression of ‘opposition’ between the generation groupings in a camp takes the form of light-hearted abuse and spectacular waterthrowing battles. The aim of the activity was to saturate certain kin in the opposite ...

• TLF-IDM006681

A game of accuracy, the throwing of the boomerang (buran) was played by the Jagara (or Jagera) people of south Queensland. A player stood in the middle of the small circle and threw a right-hand boomerang (dunimgi) first. The aim was to make it return as close as possible to the peg (marker) in the middle of the circle. ...

• TLF-IDM006572

Although not a universal activity, athletic events were common. In a part of central Australia the children would have running races together. The race was a cooperative effort. According to age, running speed and fitness levels, runners started at different distances and all players attempted to finish together. This activity ...

• TLF-IDM006644

Rollers (toy cars) are to be found in many Aboriginal settlements in more remote parts of Australia. For example, toy trucks are made of wheel rims and toy cars from wire or twine attached to large tins filled with sand or damp soil. The tin-can rollers are pushed with handles made of wire or pulled using wire or twine. ...

• TLF-IDM006601

Riawena means ‘fun (sport)’ in the language used by the Aboriginal people of the Oyster Bay area of Tasmania. A number of the games and activities can be conducted as athletic events. The Yulunga: Traditional Indigenous Games resource was developed to provide all Australians with a greater understanding and appreciation ...

• TLF-IDM006626

A hockey game was played by the Noongar people in the south of Western Australia. The game was called meetcha boma (‘nut striking’) in the Perth area. A meeja or meetcha (red gum nut) was used as the ball and a piece of wood with a crooked root (bandeegurt) as the hockey stick. The stick was generally bent into shape with ...

• TLF-IDM006632

This stone rolling and stopping game was originally described as ‘stick-and-stone’ and was played by men in the Boulia district of Queensland. The Pitta-Pitta people referred to it as pucho-pucho tau-i-malle. This is a ball rolling and stopping activity involving two groups of players. The Yulunga: Traditional Indigenous ...