You’ll be drawn to these winged wonders like a moth to a flame! The Big Bogong Moths rest peacefully beside the Australian Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. Based on a design by indigenous artiste Jim Williams, and crafted by Matthew Harding, they celebrate the history of the local Ngunnawal people.
No, no, no, the Ngunnawal aren’t some sort of human-moth hybrid tribe, they simply revere bogongs – as we all should.
There are six monstrous moths, and the concrete cuties cemented their place in the hearts of Canberrans in 2001.
The Bogongs are best seen from the sky, but with drones banned in the area, I called up my good chum – and self-confessed Big Thing tragic – Scott Morrison, then-Prime Minister of Australia, to see if he could help out.
“Bigs, the preservation and recording of our wonderful Big Things and roadside attractions is the most important issue facing this country,” Scotty told me in a lengthy and, at times, rambling conversation. “There’s a Black Hawk chopper out the back, do you want that?”
“Sounds great, Scotty,” I replied. “Just as long as the propellers don’t mess up my hair!”
“Anything for you, Bigs. Need a tank?”
“Only if those nutters who claim the Big Banana is the oldest Big Thing keep it up!”
Oh, how we laughed! Then Scotty and I spent a splendid afternoon visiting the nearby Big Thorny Devil, Big Coins and Big Pears.
“Shouldn’t you be running the country rather than racing around admiring oversized roadside attractions with me?” I asked Scotty as we crawled through the Big Acorns together.
“No, shouldn’t you be running the country rather than racing around admiring oversized roadside attractions with me?” Scotty quipped back.
Oh, how we laughed!
