Naming our places

A RECENT survey of 5,000 places and roads across Victoria found that more than 1,400 are named after men, while only 200 honour women.

People from our First Nations, LGBTQIA+ and multicultural communities and people with a disability are also underrepresented in our place names.

Can you think of a woman or a person from these underrepresented communities who made a profound impact in Greater Geelong?

You could help immortalise their legacy by putting their name forward for new roads, parks, community facilities and buildings across our region.

As our city continues to expand and become more diverse, we will need to name more places such as sports pavilions, aquatic centres and many other new community facilities.

At times we also need to rename places and roads due to realignments, or name unnamed laneways to assist with navigation. Renaming can also occur with the rebuilding of facilities.

The Department of Transport and Planning is inviting Victorians to nominate unsung heroes from underrepresented groups to be considered for a new place name.

In total across Victoria, more than 6,000 new places will need to be named over the next three years.

Commemorative names recognise people who were held in high regard by the community.

To be commemorated, the person will:

· Be deceased at least two years,

· Have left a lasting legacy, and

· Have a long association with the nominated area.

In Greater Geelong we have some fantastic examples of places named after women who made a lasting and profound impact.

Chapman Court, East Geelong – named after sisters Mildred and Beryl Chapman

Mildred enlisted with the RAAF in May 1942 aged 22 and served until February 1946. She was originally a textile worker and became a stewardess whilst serving. Beryl enlisted in December 1941 aged 20 and was discharged in December 1945. She worked in the stores depot as a clerk.

Gillingham Lane, Newtown – named after Ethel Gillingham

Ethel volunteered as a nursing sister with the Second British Red Cross Mission in Serbia in 1915. During that time Ethel and her companions were captured by the invading German and Austro-Hungarian troops. Ethel was awarded the Serbian Cross of Mercy Medal for her service.

Biggs Walk, Portarlington – named after Ethel Maud Biggs

The only female name recorded on the Portarlington War Memorial, Ethel trained as a nurse at Geelong Hospital. In 1917 she enlisted as a staff nurse in the Australian Army Nursing Service where she served until 1920. She was an original member of the Geelong Hospital Nurses League. Ethel passed away in 1988 aged 97.

Can you think of others who deserve recognition?

We need your help – this is your chance to help us commemorate people from all backgrounds, identities and walks of life to ensure our place names reflect the rich diversity of our community.

To nominate someone who has made a lasting impact in Greater Geelong or to find out more, visit engage.vic.gov.au/name-a-place.

The Department of Transport and Planning will add approved public nominations to name banks for councils across Victoria.

City of Greater Geelong staff will then access our municipality’s name bank for potential naming options for the dozens of new community facilities we open each year.

So please, if you can think of someone whose name deserves recognition, get involved in this ground-breaking initiative.

Ali Wastie

Chief executive officer, City of Greater Geelong