Grateful for the activists

I just finished listening to last week’s council meeting and I have a lot to say about this place-naming situation we find ourselves in. But where to start? So I will focus on one thing and that is the word ‘activist’ that was used as an insult several times, about the persons who spoke on the day.

Because our councillors like facts, I will start with the Oxford definition “A person who campaigns to bring about political or social change.”

I’m a woman who has the right to vote and own and run my own business. I am grateful for the activists who fought for my rights. As a mother of a daughter, I am grateful for the activists who continue to fight for her rights.

To say there is no connection between the systemic atrocities that women face in our society and something as seemingly mundane as street naming is untrue.

I know this because I was able to achieve higher education and learn about history, politics and sociology. I know because I can read the news, access up-to-date information, and because I am allowed to ask questions that further my education - again I am grateful to activists for these rights.

I also know this because on Wednesday, several respected, learned, decorated and specialist people pointed out this very connection during that council meeting - using data, facts and evidence collected and presented on subjects they are experts in.

Cr Goss, I suspect that you are correct that most people in the Baw Baw Shire do not care about this place naming issue and that is ok. History will show us time and time again that important battles were fought by minority groups.

That does not make it a minority issue and it does not make it “a bit of whinging” as you stated in the meeting.

To the people of Baw Baw Shire, I say please consider that perhaps this conversation is not a waste of time or that it is ‘just’ a small group of activists making noise. I agree with the councillors that we are all struggling with financial burdens but don’t forget that, if not for activists, our supermarkets would not be currently under investigation for price gouging and ripping off our farmers. If not for activists, Japanese Whalers would be free to destroy the populations of whales in our oceans. If not for activists Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples would not be able to vote - that only happened in 1962.

Maybe you don’t care about any of those things, but I bet if you think about it, the things you do care about and the freedoms you and your families enjoy are yours because of activists.

Thank you to the group of activists who stood up on Wednesday and for all the time they and many others have given to this project - not for themselves - but for the women in history who were overlooked and for the women in future who will have equal status and visibility in our community in an important symbolic, permanent and public way.

This place-naming policy is a victory and I am glad that the Baw Baw Shire councillors have voted, twice, to move ahead with it. The bonus is that since place naming is already a thing that happens, it shouldn’t cost us ratepayers any extra to close this gap.

Erika McInerney, Warragul

Naive scenario

There was no denying the sincerity spoken by feminist presenters at the April 3 Baw Baw Shire meeting on the issue of Place and Feature Naming Policy. Their passion was eclipsed only by their naivety.

In the Country song ‘Rock of My Soul’ Rodney Crowell sings: “I’m a first-hand witness to an age-old crime. A man who hits a woman isn’t worth a dime”.

No decent person of any gender would disagree, but to jump from that to an assertion positive discrimination in favour of female place names will make a difference to violence against women is a million miles away from reality.

I cannot imagine a scenario where a place name policy with a 70 per cent weighting in favour of females will change a man’s violent behaviour towards his partner.

If the submitters believe this, then I’m the principal ballerina with the Bolshoi Ballet.

Matthew Laverack, Warragul

More drama than Netflix

If you are a human living in Baw Baw who will be voting in the upcoming Local Government elections in November 2024, I strongly encourage you to view the recording of the April 3 council meeting. Just the last 25 minutes. You won’t regret it - it’s more dramatic than anything you’ll see on Netflix.

This is an excellent representation of the best and worst our current council has to offer.

I cannot speak highly enough of Cr Tauru, Cr Cook and Mayor McCabe. Their compassion, respect and ability to present logical, evidence-based information amongst the onslaught from Cr Goss and Cr Wallace was outstanding.

I am really proud of the dignity and integrity these leaders are bringing to their roles and their ability to advocate for and represent the interests of all members of the community, not simply seeking to consolidate and further their own social and economic advantages.

They understand privilege and use it to facilitate positive change for those most disadvantaged by the status quo.

I’d also like to express my appreciation for the council employees who have worked diligently to support gender equality. I can’t imagine how frustrating it must be to have your expertise and professional capabilities undermined by men who think their opinions are equal to expert knowledge hard fought over decades.

But don’t take my word for it folk - watch the recording and make up your own mind.

Rochelle Hine, Warragul

Where is respect?

During the council meeting on April 3, I observed behaviour that I found concerning and disrespectful.

Observed behaviours included shouting, finger pointing and ignoring requests from the chair to sit and be quiet.

Another councillor was typing on his laptop during some of the speakers’ presentations, suggesting he may have been ignoring them - though it’s true he may have been taking notes. Nonetheless, it was distracting to those trying to present their various points.

It is crucial for all of us, as individuals but also as members of the council to foster an environment where everyone feels safe, respected and valued, regardless of differences in opinion. Such behaviours have no place in today’s council.

Might I suggest that the council implement appropriate training programs, reaffirm, communicate and enforce clear guidelines for respectful conduct and promote a culture of accountability and respect. It should not be up to the chair alone to action these.

Dr A. Reupert, Warragul

Hypocritical

I would like to address the hypocritical elephant that appeared to be in the council chamber room at last week’s council meeting.

Mayor McCabe again called out only her male councillor colleagues when the discussion and debate got heated. One female speaker declared a “pissing contest” with male councillors, which she did not address. However, she did address Cr Wallace who voiced a similar phrase in return. Is this unconscious bias or plain old fashioned bias?

She did the same when she allowed another female speaker over the allowed three minute time to speak but shut down Cr Goss on time who had right of reply.

Mayor McCabe seems to have trouble staying impartial in her privileged position.

I strongly believe that the place naming policy should never have distinguished a value on gender.

I am a wife to a respectful and supportive husband, I am a mother to a son who has grown into a loving and supportive husband and I now have a grandson being raised in the same respectful and supportive environment. They deserve recognition just as much as the female population.

Mayor McCabe does not seem to think so, she does not seem to support the men as she does the women. Gender bias and hypocritical are the phrases that come to mind.

Mayor McCabe stated she has had only positive feedback about her gendered behaviour so I encourage all ratepayers who see their money being wasted on ridiculous policies that favour one gender over the other, without any factual data, to voice your concerns directly to Mayor McCabe, that we want action and our money spent toward the huge issues in our community that require it the most - roads, rates and rubbish.

Maybe when she can get council to master these issues she can continue following her ‘women over men’ agenda.

Carolyn Gorman, Drouin