How the sun was made
As told by the Noongaburrah people from the Narran River, NSW
For a long time there was no sun, only a moon and stars. There were no men on the earth then, only birds and beasts many sizes larger than they are now. One day Dinewan the emu and Brolga were on a plain near the Murrumbidgee quarrelling. Brolga, in her rage, rushed to the nest of Dinewan, seized one of the huge eggs, and threw up into the sky. It broke on a heap of firewood, which burst into flame, and lit up the world to the astonishment of every creature on it.
A good spirit saw how beautiful the earth looked when lit up and thought it would be good to make a fire every day. From then on he did so. All night he collects wood. When the heap is big enough he sends out the morning star to warn those on earth the fire will soon be lit.
However, the spirit found this warning insufficient, for those who slept saw it not. So he thought someone should make a noise at dawn to herald the sun and awaken sleepers. One evening he heard the laughter of Goo-goor-gaga, the kookaburra, ringing through the air. "That is the noise I want!"
He told Goo-goor-gaga that, as each day dawned, he was to laugh his loudest. If he didn't, then no more would the spirit light the sun-fire, and earth would be ever in twilight again.
But Goo-goor-gaga saved the light for the world.
He laughs his loudest at the dawn of every day, making the air ring with his loud cackling,
"Goo goor gaga, goo goor gaga."
Children aren't allowed to imitate the laughter of Goo-goor-gaga, lest he should hear and cease his morning cry. If children do mock him, an extra tooth grows above their eye-tooth, and they carry the mark of their mockery in punishment. And the good spirit knows if the Goo-goor-gagas cease laughing to herald the sun, there will be no more dawns and darkness will reign once more.