Community members encouraged to nominate for Place Names Advisory Committee

Have you ever wondered how places in our community are named?

Here’s your chance to be part of a team to help name parks, reserves and other places across Wodonga.

Wodonga Council is seeking nominations from community members to join the Place Names Advisory Committee.

The council is seeking a diverse range of interested people, including a traditional owner representative and anyone who is experienced in or knowledgeable of the local Aboriginal culture and history, to join an expanded committee and help preserve the city’s identity and heritage.

At its August council meeting, council adopted a Place Naming Policy and revised Place Naming Advisory Committee Charter, which increases the number of committee members to up to eight, and resolved to ask for community members to nominate to join the committee.

The Place Naming Committee will meet between four and six times a year and up to $100 remuneration is available for attending meetings, which are held on weekdays during business hours.

Wodonga Mayor Cr Kev Poulton encouraged anyone interested in place names and history to consider nominating.

“This is an important opportunity to explore Wodonga’s past and be part of its future,” Cr Poulton said.

 “We need to preserve the city’s identity and heritage, recognising its rich cultural and ethnic diversity and giving equitable and fair representation of all genders, culture and history.” 

Present committee chair Cr Libby Hall said the committee was an advisory group that made recommendations and supports the council in meeting its obligations under the Geographical Place Names Act 1998.

“This committee works to ensure that any naming decisions are made in the best interests of the whole community,” Cr Hall said.

The committee provides a framework for considering requests for and submissions to proposals for the naming of places within Wodonga. 

The committee will comprise between five and eight members, including one councillor and one representative from the Wodonga Historical Society.

Nominations close on September 8.

To nominate