Whilst her hungry joey awaited under the shade of a gum-tree,
the bandah kangaroo mother searched for water,
with risk of dingos and eagles ever near.

Along her path she offered assistance,
to a partially blind old wombat named wum wirambi,
pushing and steering him to a waterhole.
After checking her joey,
she patiently led the wombat to grass.

When a hungry hunter arrived,
the kangaroo sensed danger,
and drew him away.
Then again she checked her joey.

Upon her return she found the wombat had disappeared.

Then the Great Spirit of Baiame spoke –
to discover the kindest of all animals,
it had pretended to be an old, thirsty hungry wombat,
and offered to reward the kangaroo’s consideration of others.

So her joey would be with her at all times,
she requested a pouch,
as well as one for all her marsupial sisters.

LHB