Real issue is racism, not name

SHOULD we change the name of Townsville?

Probably not.

Yesterday, the call was put out to change the names of towns like Townsville, Mackay and Gladstone because of the names’ connection to slavery or blackbirding.

A petition signed by 400 people lodged with the Queensland parliament has requested the move start with Russell Island – named for Lord Russell, who allegedly voted against slavery abolition.

The movement has been bubbling along for quite a while now.

The painting of the hands of the Robert Towns monument on the back of the Black Lives Matter protest dredged up the old argument here.

Towns, the founder of Townsville, has been accused of being a blackbirder.

The claim upsets many in the community who say there is no real proof. That said, it is generally believed he was in some way associated with the trade of islanders to work in and around the region.

Now the call has been made to change the names of all cities that have some relationship to slavery.

Already, just west of Townsville, authorities have wiped the name of mountains near Charters Towers that were called Niggers Bounce.

Fair call – the name and others using the term are upsetting to many in our community. But to change the name of Townsville is a step too far.

Changing the name of Northern Australia’s biggest city will not help solve the real problem in North Queensland and, for that matter, Australia.

Racism is still an issue.

Granted, the country has come a long way, but anyone who says there aren’t still major concerns is kidding themselves.

History should not be covered up or hidden away. History should be taught, people should know what really did happen in the early days and learn from it.

It’s the only way for all of us to make amends for the mistakes of the past.