A Melbourne winery has received a rude new nickname after its title was translated into its Aboriginal meaning.
Celeste Liddle was scrolling through Facebook when she came across a post advertising wedding functions at Sunbury’s Goona Warra Vineyard.
The social rights campaigner understood the word ‘goona’ to mean ‘poo’ and was amused when it appeared in the venue’s title.
The meaning of a Melbourne winery’s name has come to light giving the famed venue a distasteful new translation
Ms Liddle’s friends were quick to find the funny side, making light of the name’s true meaning
Across a number of Aboriginal dialects the word is recognised to mean the defecating term whereas ‘warra’ can translate to ‘crazy’.
She took a screenshot of the ad and posted it to her social media page stating: ‘Werte! The ”crazy sh** winery” offers wedding packages. And suddenly, my immature, Arrernte, marriage-abolitionist self just lost it.’
Her friends and followers were quick to find the funny side, commenting lighthearted anecdotes around the name.
‘I sort of said, what does ”warra” mean around Victoria, you lot? And pretty much confirmed what I thought has happened, which you know, some blackfulla probably told them some fibs many years ago about name origins,’ Celeste said, SBS reported.
Information about the vineyard states the winery was formed in 1836 and believes the translation means ‘black swan’
The winery’s website states the vineyard was established in 1863 and means ‘black swan’.
‘Everything we do,’ they say, ‘from our events to our wines, is guided by our motto.’
Aunty Gail Smith from the Wurundjeri Tribe Land Council said the words ‘goona’ and ‘warra’ does translate ‘poo’ and ‘crazy’ respectively.
‘It depends on the way they spell it because we have a word ‘gunuwarry’ which means ‘swan’,’ Aunty Gail Smith said.
Aunty Gail Smith from the Wurundjeri Tribe Land Council said the words ‘goona’ and ‘warra’ does translate ‘poo’ and ‘crazy’ respectively