Whitey the bush Kangaroo

This story was dedicated to my son Paul and was written during his 21st year.

WHITEY

by R.E.MAC RAE.12/7/87.

A little further west of Lake Cargelligo, near a large sheep station, lived a family of kangaroos. One of these kangaroos was a kindly special one. As we all know, all kangaroos are kind to each other, and are very special, but this particular one was even more special. She always helped anyone that was in need and was always cheery and happy, and loved to make others happy if they were sad.     

She had sadness, that she never spoke about, and that was, she had never had a child of her own. She was marvellous with the other children, always looking after them when their mothers were busy, and making up games for them to enjoy. She loved to hear the little ones laughing, and to see them being kind to each other. 

Well one evening when the sun was closing up for the day and packing away all the sunbeams, and all the pretty clouds were going to sleep in the approaching darkness, she sat and watched all this beauty, and wondered how the Great  BEING that made it all, must be. She whispered a small prayer to the BEING, and asked if she might have a child of her own. She smiled a thank you, hoping her prayer might be answered, for she had prayed that prayer many times before. Then she returned to her family.        

As with the BEING that made everything, and has a time for everything, she did, not long after, have a baby kangaroo of her own, and as you will see a very special boy kangaroo. He was special, because he was white.   

The other kangaroos were puzzled, no one had ever had a white baby before, and all the kangaroos in that part of Australia were grey. She loved her baby, even if he was white. She knew the BEING was wise, and had given her a special son. She called him WHITEY.    

Some of the kangaroos thought that having a white baby was so strange, and different, that they were frightened, and asked the elders to banish them. So Whitey and his mum were asked to leave. This they did even though it broke her heart to leave her family.    

The love that Whitey's mum had for him, was so strong, it kept her happy during the days that he was growing up. They were never very far from their family. Sometimes they would see the others in the distance. Young Whitey wanted to join them. His mother tried to explain why they couldn't. This was very difficult, for she didn't want Whitey to dislike his family, or feel it was his fault. So she would make up stories as to why they lived alone.    

Whitey was taller than his mum by now, he was even bigger than any kangaroo she had ever seen, and strong too. He also had a kind and loving heart. His mum had taught him about the BEING that had made everything and how to pray each evening at sunset. Whitey had learnt to find water, and also the sweet grass that grew on the creek flats. He had learnt the names of the other animals that he shared the land with. He learnt that they were different, some could fly, some swam, and some could climb trees, whilst others lived under the ground. His mum taught him the BEING made them all for special reasons and loved them all equally.       

One beautiful sunny day, Whitey and his mum were on the side of a big hill, enjoying the shade under some gum trees, resting in the heat of the day All at once Whitey smelled a new smell, this was marvellous, how exciting, he asked his mother what it was, she sniffed, then began to tremble. She knew what the smell was; she had smelt it once before, when she was a small kangaroo. It was a bushfire. She explained to Whitey what it was, and the damage it would do, and the lives that would be lost. Her father was killed by the last fire, as he was helping her and her mother to safety  

They began to move towards the river, to safety when Whitey saw in the distance the fire had trapped his family.   

Kangaroos were hopping everywhere. They were lost in the black smoke He asked his mother to go to the river, and said he would try and see if help the others. She smiled, and then he was off. Jumping great logs in a single bound, racing down the hill over large rocks and ravines, with one thing on his mind, to gather his family together, and lead them to the river and safety, he was magnificent.

When he arrived, he called them to him; they could see him for he was white and tall in the black smoke. He beckoned them to follow him; he led them up the hill, carrying two baby kangaroos, that couldn't find their mothers in the rush. On reaching the spot where he had left he found that his mother had waited for him she took one of the babies as Whitey made sure that everyone was there. As the fire was almost on top of them Whitey led the way down to the river through the black smoke.         

Whitey knew kangaroos didn't like to swim unless they had to, so he took them to his special place, where he used to play as a little kangaroo. It was special, because, where the water had washed the soil away from the giant red gums; it had left the roots bare like a little house under the trees, enough room for all. There they waited on the edge of the river, until the bushfire had roared overhead and gone off into the distance.        

Whitey noticed that not only the kangaroos had followed him to safety, but many other animals of the bush had come too. When the danger had passed they all began talking amongst themselves and realised that Whitey and his mum were the ones that were banished so long ago. They asked for forgiveness, and Whitey and his mum merely smiled and began hugging them all. Together with the other animals, the kangaroos all joined paws, and formed a circle and danced around Whitey and his mum

Singing.................                       

Whitey we all love you,                                          

Whitey we love you.        

Whitey with his arm around his mum stood and felt glad that he could join the others at last.

Whitey lived a long and interesting life; soon I will tell you more of his wonderful adventures.