On 5 October, District 12 held an event to acknowledge and build relationships with the Taungurung community by renaming its two meeting rooms with Wurrung language words.
Sandra O'Connor(Volunteer Sustainability team), Peter Creak (Regional Controller), Shane Monk (Taungurung Clan Aboriginal Corporation), Aunty Lee Healy (Taungurung Elder), Rhonda Sanderson, Mitchell (Shire Mayor) and Mick Sanderson (District 12 VFBV Pre
The idea came about when Sandra O’Connor from the Volunteer Sustainability team suggested it at a district staff meeting. The initiative gained the support of the Acting Operations Manager Justin Dally, and all staff were in favour of renaming the meeting rooms.
Some suitable names were sought from the Taungurung Clans Aboriginal Corporation. A survey was then carried out so that District 12 staff could vote for their favourite names.
The names chosen for the meeting rooms are Buk – meaning gathering of people from vast places, and Bundjil – meaning Wedge tail eagle.
An opening ceremony was conducted where Regional Controller Peter Creak was the master of ceremonies and a Welcome to Country was performed by Taungurung Elder Aunty Lee Healy. Aunty Lee is a linguist and expert in the Taungurung language. She's also the author of the Taungurung dictionary and has just completed writing the Taungurung grammar book.
Over morning tea, Aunty Lee and Shane Monk were kind enough to treat the guests to an impromptu language and culture lesson.
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Author: Sandra O'Connor