air does not come in a whirly bird
savonius rotors of which the whirly is one spin even when made of cut barrels,
a barrel cut vertically and arranged as an S around an axle, spins,
by the difference in pressure between air striking a vane tapered inwards, and a vane tapered outwards
the spin, creates low pressure at the outer edge
(moving air is always at a lower pressure than adjacent stationary or slower air, high school physics, I cant remember why, high school is a long while ago)
the spin and associated low pressure annulus in a whirly, draws air from the plenum, and thence the roof space
on moving vehicles
on roof tops
powering generators
powering water pumps on the stuart highway at the tennant creek telegraph station from ~1930
whirlies create quite significant air movement, but are useless without eave vents to let replacement air in, the total pressure drop created is small, they cant suck through cavities (made toilet paper parachtes for one of the camper's kids here, and launched them out the whirly in the bathroom, steam removal and parachute launcher, not a normal household installation)
whirly(s) at the top
foil sarking sealed to rafters(?, sloping timbers) eave vents in the bottom to make a chimney system with 'hot side' separate from the general roof space, good insulation on the ceiling
sidebar
the minimum insulation in other places is R20,
Aus ads for R2.5, as hi-efficiency
crapola, increased insulation saves more than it costs(ppor yay)(ip ppphhhhhht), insulate underfloors, walls, ceilings to as high a number as there is,
and there will be a noticeable effect from the whirly(s), it(they) will be only pulling heated air from the much smaller space between roofing and sarking, not from the whole roof cavity