Locals want this creek renamed over concerns of racism. Do you agree?
- Replies 98
Depending on who you ask, facing our nation’s history head-on can either be a blessing or a curse.
In Australia’s past there have been clashes that resulted in Indigenous Australians being hurt — or worse.
While we want all Aussies, regardless of descent, to live freely and in peace, we must also accept that changes have to be made to make that possible.
One such change was when the Queensland Government removed the use of the name ‘N***** Head’ from official records in 2017 after a survey then revealed ten places in the state using the slur.
At the time, there was much talk about giving Aboriginal Australians greater recognition of their role in history.
Perhaps an enduring effect of this change across Australia is that many locals are now speaking out against the remaining names of places they deem racist and colonialist.
Recently, the Queensland Government also announced that it was formally renaming Fraser Island to K’gari to recognise the racism brought upon the local Butchulla people by Eliza Fraser, who spread damaging stories about her experience being stranded on the island in 1836.
Local consultations were held early this October, while the formal name change is expected to take effect before the year’s end.
Meanwhile, on the Sunshine Coast, residents are still lobbying for the name of Murdering Creek Road and its namesake Murdering Creek to be replaced.
Advocates for the cause point out the names should be changed because of a massacre of Indigenous people in the area in the 1860s.
Local Sue Norman, who approved of Fraser Island’s name change back to K’gari when she heard the news, said it was the right time to change the name of Murdering Creek Road.
‘(It’s a) terrible name and reminder,’ she said. ‘It should be changed.’
Previously, there was much discussion regarding whether renaming the creek was the right way to go about honouring Indigenous history.
In 2017, Indigenous resident Roselys Blaich urged the locals to think of a way to properly remember what happened to the area.
She told a local paper she was in favour of retaining the controversial name along with constructing a memorial to ‘properly recognise what happened’.
Other places in the country have also decided to change names over concerns related to racial and colonialist tensions in the past.
In July, talks started for two creeks near Cairns to be renamed Bana Gindarja and Watyakan, respectively, after an outcry from some locals for their previous racially-charged names ‘Blackfellow Creek’ and ‘Black G** Creek’.
What are your thoughts on this? Should the authorities change the names of roads and places that refer to the era of colonisation?
Share your opinions with us in the comments below. We’d love to hear them.
Source: YouTube/SBS The Feed
In Australia’s past there have been clashes that resulted in Indigenous Australians being hurt — or worse.
While we want all Aussies, regardless of descent, to live freely and in peace, we must also accept that changes have to be made to make that possible.
One such change was when the Queensland Government removed the use of the name ‘N***** Head’ from official records in 2017 after a survey then revealed ten places in the state using the slur.
At the time, there was much talk about giving Aboriginal Australians greater recognition of their role in history.
Recent developments have given attention once again to renaming Murdering Creek Road. Credit: news.com.au
Perhaps an enduring effect of this change across Australia is that many locals are now speaking out against the remaining names of places they deem racist and colonialist.
Recently, the Queensland Government also announced that it was formally renaming Fraser Island to K’gari to recognise the racism brought upon the local Butchulla people by Eliza Fraser, who spread damaging stories about her experience being stranded on the island in 1836.
Local consultations were held early this October, while the formal name change is expected to take effect before the year’s end.
Meanwhile, on the Sunshine Coast, residents are still lobbying for the name of Murdering Creek Road and its namesake Murdering Creek to be replaced.
Advocates for the cause point out the names should be changed because of a massacre of Indigenous people in the area in the 1860s.
Local Sue Norman, who approved of Fraser Island’s name change back to K’gari when she heard the news, said it was the right time to change the name of Murdering Creek Road.
‘(It’s a) terrible name and reminder,’ she said. ‘It should be changed.’
The Queensland Government held local consultations on changing the name of Fraser Island to K’gari. Credit: whc.unesco.org/Tourism Queensland
Previously, there was much discussion regarding whether renaming the creek was the right way to go about honouring Indigenous history.
In 2017, Indigenous resident Roselys Blaich urged the locals to think of a way to properly remember what happened to the area.
She told a local paper she was in favour of retaining the controversial name along with constructing a memorial to ‘properly recognise what happened’.
Other places in the country have also decided to change names over concerns related to racial and colonialist tensions in the past.
What are your thoughts on this? Should the authorities change the names of roads and places that refer to the era of colonisation?
Share your opinions with us in the comments below. We’d love to hear them.
Source: YouTube/SBS The Feed
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