What is "yarri"

Yarri (c1810 – 24 July 1880) was an Australian Aboriginal man of the Wiradjuri language group who rescued 49 people from the flooded Murrumbidgee River in Gundagai on the night of 24 June 1852.

Yarri's traditional name of Coonong Denamundinna indicates he was of the Coonong pastoral property near Tumblong, Adelong N.S.W. which was also associated with the Coonong region downstream of Wagga Wagga in New South Wales.

Yarri, and other Aboriginal men saved as many as 49 people in the Murrumbidgee floods at Gundagai, New South Wales on 25 June 1852, which killed either 78 or perhaps 89 people, out of the town's population of 250; it is one of the largest natural disasters in Australia's history. Local Aboriginal men, Yarri, Jacky Jacky, Long Jimmy and one other played a role in saving many Gundagai people from the 1852 floodwaters, rescuing many people using bark canoes. Yarri and Jacky Jacky were honored with bronze medallions for their efforts, and were allowed to demand sixpences from all Gundagai residents, although Yarri was maltreated on at least one occasion after the flood. Long Jimmy died not long after his rescues, possibly from the effects of being exposed to the freezing cold and wet conditions.

Yarri also saved John Hargreaves in 1844, and remained a friend of the family for many years, living on their Tarrabandra farm until his death. A nulla-nulla and shield believed to belong to Yarri, was presented to the Gundagai Historical Society by John Hargreaves grandson Dallas.

Yarri was also known as Yarree or Coonong Denamundinna, and is believed to have killed John Baxter on the Edward John Eyre expedition in 1841, and also to have killed a young part Aboriginal woman 'Sally McLeod' near Gundagai in 1852. Warrants for Yarri/Yarree's arrest were issued by NSW Police after Brungle Aboriginal people reported him to the police over the Sally McLeod murder.

Yarri's wife, known as Black Sally, died in March 1873, while Yarri himself died on 24 July 1880 and is buried in the Catholic Section of the North Gundagai General Cemetery.