THE MORETON BAY FIG OR AUSTRALIAN BANYAN WAS AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR CLANS FROM QUEENSLAND TO 100 MILES SOUTH OF SYDNEY. IT’S FRUIT IS EDIBLE, BUT NOT THAT TASTY. ITS INNER BARK FIBRE WAS USED TO MAKE DILLY BAGS, ROPE FOR CLIMBING TREES & FISHING NETS. ITS SOFT SPONGY TIMBER WAS FAIRLY EASY FOR MEN TO MAKE COOLAMONS, IE: WOODEN CARRYING DISHES. WOMEN USED THEM AS CRADLES & ROCKED THEIR NEW-BORN INFANTS TO SLEEP WITH THEIR BIG TOE. SHIELDS & DUG OUT CANOES WERE CUT FROM THE OUTER BARK. THE SOFT WOOD WAS IDEAL FOR TOY RETURNING BOOMERANGS. FIRE WAS EASILY MADE BY TWIRLING A SHARPENED HARDWOOD STICK BETWEEN THE HANDS AGAINST THE SOFTER DRY WOOD WITH THIN SHAVINGS OF DRY BARK. AS SOON AS FRICTION CREATED A TENDRIL OF SMOKE, THE FIRE-MAKER BLEW ON IT UNTIL IT BURST INTO FLAMES. RIPE FIGS WERE PICKED TO RELEASE A MILKY SAP WHICH WAS USED AS A NATURAL LATEX “BAND AID” TO COVER WOUNDS, CUTS, BURNS & SAND FLY BITES TO PREVENT INFECTION. 1 OR 2 DROPS OF THE SAP WAS USED TO RELIEVE SORE EYES.