Faith and Warragul were indigenous Australian Aborigines who lived in Arnhem land around 1930.
They were members of the Yolngu Nation.
One sunny day they decided to go to the local billabong and have a canoe ride together.
The Billabong had many crocodiles in it but they were used to that.
They swam there many times as children.
Faith carried a small wooden carving of an animal with ears.
It was a gift from her grandmother Auntie Kirra.
She loved that carving and carried it everywhere.
At the billabong they climbed into an old bark canoe that was just floating there.
No one seemed to own it.
As they were floating along Warragull noticed some large crocodiles lurking along the other side.
But Warragul and Faith were in love and didn’t worry about the danger.
As the Sun rose high Faith screamed out:
“My carving it\'s gone. I dropped it in the water. Please get it back. That was gift
from my Auntie Kirra. Oh please get it back.”
Immediately Warragul dove into the water without realizing that his splashes were attracting crocodiles.
He swam around and could not find the carving.
Warragul was gone for a long time and Faith was terrified.
She paddled the canoe back to the shore and ran as fast as she could
back to her village camp site.
She told the elders what had happened and they quickly organized a search party.
When the men got to the spot they saw Warragul on the shore fatally wounded by
crocodiles.
Faith fell to the ground and screamed out loud blaming herself.
In Warraguls hand was the wooden carving.
Faith took and had to be helped to walk back home.
Many nights went by and she dreamt of Warragul often
In her dreams his spirit would visit her.
He would tell her he loved her very much and he was in a happy place.