Community
4 July, 2024
Creek renamed due to offensive meaning
A SMALL creek near Caramut has taken the next steps towards renaming to remove a term which is offensive to Indigenous women and children, with strong support from the community.
Following a period of public consultation, councillors voted at last week’s Ordinary Meeting of Council to submit a formal request to Geographic Names Victoria to have Lubra Creek renamed Thanampool Thookay Creek.
Mayor Cr Ian Smith said there were 34 submissions made during the four-week period, with most supportive of the change.
He said it was a small and inexpensive step to take to remove a name that is derogatory towards Indigenous women and children.
“Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation approached council, asking if we would change the name of the creek because the term lubra is considered offensive,” he said.
“The new name, Thanampool Thookay Creek, is Dhauwurd Wurrung language meaning women and children and has been selected to honour the First Nation people murdered at the site in 1842.
“In changing the name of the creek, we are taking positive steps forward and showing council is prepared to acknowledge our region has a hurtful history for Indigenous people and we are prepared to build stronger, proactive relationships with Traditional Owners.”
Council officers will now make a formal application to Geographic Names Victoria.
Residents will be able to provide further feedback to the agency during its assessment process.
Cr Jordan Lockett moved the motion to proceed with the name change, saying he fully supported the motion with mixed emotions.
“It’s a shame it’s taken so long and we’re fully aware this land has a black history – one of our oldest living cultures on Earth, and there has been many atrocities that have happened in the past that haven’t been taught in kindergarten, primary schools and secondary schools,” he said.
“We have a long way to go in reconciliation, and this is a direct way we can start to change things that are wrong.
“It’s a difficult process, and as a white person in this space I’ve always felt a bit awkward - what can we do - but one of the main things is to listen when we hear about truth telling and that’s been told.”
Cr Lockett said it was important to learn from the stories, which included the 1842 massacre of First Nations people, four women and a child, in Caramut.
“This has obviously a long and difficult history, and have direct action in how we can change our racist and difficult past,” he said.
“One of the things we often talk about on council is doing with and not doing to, and I think this is an example of how we’ve been doing with, listening and being informed by others, that this is the right thing to do.”
Cr Karen Foster seconded the motion, saying “history can be hard, but we should always remember it so we never repeat the mistakes of the past”.
“I really hope this renaming of the creek to Thanampool Thookay helps us to remember those four women and one child with a deep respect and honour that they weren’t afforded in 1842,” she said.
“The genesis of this has come from Indigenous people, and that in itself means we should respect that request.
“The former name, we know it caused distress, and was offensive to a lot of people.
“This is something very small we can do as councillors to make a genuine difference for our Indigenous brothers and sisters.”
The motion was carried unanimously.