Indigenous name should be priority Theft of bangle

More than 30 people made submissions to the Australian Electoral Commission in relation to its proposed renaming of the McMillan electorate to Monash. And, overwhelmingly, the majority of submissions called for the electorate to have an indigenous name.

During the objection period, 23 submissions were lodged by individuals and groups specifically calling on the AEC to consider an indigenous name for the McMillan electorate.

Two submitters opposed the proposed name of Monash but gave no other suggestions and only one submission supported retention of McMillan.

There were two alternative suggestions including a submission from Baw Baw Shire Cr Keith Cook who suggested renaming the electorate Sutcliffe – after John Sutcliffe who was a pioneer to the area and involved in “positive change for more than 30 years” throughout the electorate.

The submission was sent in under the name of Cr Keith Cook, yet it was not a Baw Baw Shire submission.

The AEC process also allowed community members to comment on the objection submissions. During this process, 30 people wrote letters of support for Cr Cook’s suggestion of Sutcliffe.

More than two thirds of the submissions called on the AEC to consider an indigenous name for McMillan.

Calls to rename McMillan have gained momentum in recent years, because of reports that Angus McMillan massacred Aboriginal people in Gippsland area in the 1840s.

Some of the submissions said renaming McMillan to an indigenous name was an opportunity to redress past wrongs.

In her submission to the AEC, Nicole Jennings wrote: “the AEC can lead by example as a gesture of reconciliation and name the electorate after one of the names that was submitted by the joint Aboriginal submission.”

A Gippsland reconciliation group submitted the electorate should have an Aboriginal name.

The Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation, Bunurong Land Council and Bass Coast/South Gippsland Reconciliation Group made a joint submission to the AEC.

The group called for the electorate to be named “Bunjileene-Purrine” or requested the AEC committee reconvene to consider another Aboriginal name.

Many of the submissions supported the reconciliation groups’ submission.

Ian Onley’s submission suggested it would be fitting to allow affected indigenous peoples to rename the electorate.

“Given the atrocities effected on the ancestors of these people, it would seem a fitting gesture in the interests of reconciliation.

“To quickly change the name to another and so rebury the history involved in this sad tale will do nothing for the ability of our nation to recognise, re-evaluate and honour the culture of indigenous people,” Mr Onley said.

Sarah Boasman said she had a heavy heart and disappointment that the AEC had agreed to replace the name of McMillan, but not with an indigenous name.

“Surely after the horrible history the local indigenous peoples have suffered at the hands of McMillan, would be enough to offer a small token and gesture of acknowledgement to the massacres, murder and devastation caused by McMillan, to numerous communities and many families and people,” she said.

There were a total 413 submissions on the proposed redistributions across Victoria and a further 100 comments on the objections.

The AEC held two inquiries into the objections on Tuesday and Wednesday last week.

The AEC is required to make a final decision on the submissions within 60 days of the comment period closing which was May 18.

A bangle valued at $2000 was stolen during a Trafalgar burglary last week.

The burglary, at a Princes Hwy house, occurred between May 31 and June 3.

Offenders found a key hidden near a door to gain access to the house before stealing a bangle with two large pearls valued at $2000 and two Chanel handbags valued at $500 each.