Ah, Wallaroo, a real Australian place name. Overseas subscribers to this chatline might be interested to learn that this is a hobby-farming locality on the outskirts of Canberra, and that among the 322,000 plus place-names in the Australian Gazetteer there are 76 ‘Wallaroos’ or ‘Wallaroo-something-or other’. The word is part of the language as the name of a marsupial thought to look like something half-way between a kangaroo and a wallaby, and there are indeed real live wallaroos out that way a bit west of Canberra, in fact they are being displaced from one haunt by the construction of the new housing in ‘West Molonglo’. Another name for that particular marsupial is ‘Euro’, although some say that ‘Euro’ referred to the more reddish sub-species of the arid zone. It is curious that the European Union chose to name their new currency after this marsupial, although if they had chosen ‘Wallaroo’ the name would have had a more racy, spirited ring to it and perhaps have commanded more confidence than ‘Euro’, which, if pronounced slowly, sounds rather like the wail of a dingo.
From: sandra henderson [
Sent: Tuesday, 3 September 2013 8:40 AM
To: Cog line
Subject: [canberrabirds] event that may be of interest - Viewing of Murrumbidgee Gorge
I've been asked to publicise this event to COG.
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Sunday Sept 22, 2.30-4.00pm
153 Woodgrove Close, Wallaroo NSW
Murrumbidgeee Gorge, Wallaroo: A Viewing
(please bring refreshments, rug/seating)
Special thanks to Allen Mawer
Visit the Ginninderra Falls Association on the web for more information, including lunch options at nearby wineries
