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Naming rights

20/10/2017

23 Comments

 
PictureAngus McMillan
History is written by the victors, who also get the naming rights. Geoff Ellis argues that we have a chance to redress the balance when it comes to Angus McMillan. 

By Geoff Ellis
 
BASS Coast is split. Flinders in the west; McMillan to the east. The dividing line is about to be redrawn as The Australian Electoral Commission conducts the latest redistribution of the federal electorates of Victoria.
 
The shape of Flinders will change but that name will remain. It’s been with us since Federation and the AEC guidelines decree that original names from 1901 shall not be changed. McMillan, named after another explorer, is a different story.
 
In the 1948 federal redistribution, 17 seats were added to the 20 that comprised Victoria. A three-man commission travelled the state drawing lines on maps and talking to locals about names for the new divisions. They presented a list of suggestions to Parliament.
 
Harold Holt, Ben Chifley and Arthur Calwell, among others, debated the final selection. During this process Chisholm usurped Lonsdale and became our first federal electorate named after a woman. Hansard records that Calwell supported naming an electorate after Burke as he was "... an Irishman and a great explorer". Like his nominee, Calwell led his party into the wilderness.
 
Some of those names remain; others, like Burke, have disappeared and re-appeared amid the change of boundaries.
 
The AEC guidelines to the naming of electorates states: “In the main, divisions should be named after deceased Australians who have rendered outstanding service to their country”.
 
In 1948, Angus McMillan was revered. I hesitate to say he is now reviled but for at least the past 15 years people have been asking the AEC to remove that name from our electorate.
 
For the 2002 redistribution, Ann Jones, convenor of the West Gippsland Reconciliation Group, submitted the following to the AEC:
 
The name Angus McMillan has been written into the history of Gippsland and many places are named after him. The true story of this Victorian explorer and landowner has been re-examined and become the subject of considerable debate. According to recent historians, Peter Gardiner and Don Watson and film-maker Andrew Hyde, he was an unscrupulous opportunist who does not deserve the recognition of an illustrious founding father as our earlier history books record.
 
His behaviour, according to those who have researched his life, may be seen as reflecting the morality of the times, but this cannot be used as an excuse for the atrocities in which McMillan was a participant. We have attached to this letter a summary of the massacres of indigenous people in East Gippsland in which Angus McMillan was involved.
 
There are no eyewitness accounts to which we can refer that bind McMillan to any single murder but he was the leader of the ruthless Highland Brigade that violently took land for cattle and farming. Coded journal and newspaper entries refer darkly to groups of Aborigines who were dispossessed and “did not return to the area”. Place names like Skull Creek are enduring clues to their final resting place.
 
Across the continent “clearing” started on the ever-expanding edge of Sydney in the 18th Century. The last recorded massacres of Aboriginal people took place in the Northern Territory in the 1920s. Spithoods in the NT and youth suicide in the Kimberley are its latest manifestation. Income quarantining in Ceduna continues the tradition of special treatment.
 
Rifles will always overcome sticks and stones and names do more than hurt. Words indicate whether a society is anchored to the past or is maturing into the future.
 
Every seven years the AEC invites submissions on the redistribution of Victorian federal electorates. There is growing support for a name change for McMillan and other electorates. A timetable for submissions, comments and objections, are on the Australian Electoral Commission website. The closing date for suggestions is November 17.
 
If the name is removed a replacement is required. This won’t rip McMillan from the history books and does not impose a sentence. Once a strong reason for change is accepted by the AEC, they will consult with the broad community to find a replacement and suggestions will be considered through the redistribution process.
 
This shouldn’t become a debate; debates have winners and losers. Let’s have a respectful, informed discussion. The 2016 Victorian Electoral Commission review of Bass Coast Shire resulted in wards named Bunurong, Island and Western Port. People like Thompson are still remembered, just in different ways.
 
The names of several federal electorates have changed during this decade. Fraser became Fenner in the ACT and in Tasmania Clarke has replaced Denison. The Fraser name will probably re-appear on an electorate in western Victoria this time round. Despatching McMillan is a possibility.
 
GUIDELINES FOR NAMING FEDERAL ELECTORAL DIVISIONS
Naming after persons
In the main, divisions should be named after deceased Australians who have rendered outstanding service to their country.
When new divisions are created the names of former Prime Ministers should be considered.
Federation Divisional names
Every effort should be made to retain the names of original federation divisions.
Geographical names
Locality or place names should generally be avoided, but in certain areas the use of geographical features may be appropriate (e.g. Perth).
Aboriginal names
Aboriginal names should be used where appropriate and as far as possible existing Aboriginal divisional names should be retained.
AEC website
 
23 Comments
Rinchen Wilson
20/10/2017 11:11:18 pm

I for one believe we should seize this opportunity to rectify the naming of this electorate. Angus McMillan was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Aboriginal people in the 1840s through a number of mass-scale killings. This is not something we should be proud of. This shameful history of McMillan should not continue to be celebrated nor immortalized. We have the opportunity, in a small way, to right a wrong. Furthermore I believe it is only fair that the Aboriginal Communities of this region are given the opportunity to help rename our electorate.

Reply
Rob Humphrys
21/10/2017 08:44:34 am

I agree with Rinchen. The name needs to be changed and we should ask & be guided by the local Aboriginal community on a suitable name.

Reply
Samiro Douglas
21/10/2017 09:37:04 am

Thanks Geoff Ellis for this. I support Rinchen's comments and the name change.

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Felicia Di Stefano
21/10/2017 12:26:12 pm

Thank you, Geoff for once more standing up for justice in our community. Murderers must not be honoured. I too support Rinchen's ideas of asking the Aboriginal community of the area to name their land.

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peter brown
21/10/2017 04:04:23 pm

I agree with Geoff raising this issue and welcome his research and usual balanced discussion; also his wise words that it should not become a debate.
There are many villains in the history of mankind whose misdeeds should be remembered, thus to help avoid future crimes. Let us not forget the crimes of Pol Pot, Mao, Oswald, Amin, Caligula, and even the big bad wolf. The list is very long.
Recent assaults upon the statues of Robert E. Lee and James Cook, destruction of the Bamiyan Buddahs and Palmyra in Syria, renaming Colston Hall in Bristol and Penny Lane in Liverpool all received attention from righteous citizens who did not agree with the actions of others. I both agree and disagree with their 'personal' reasoning, but I find it difficult to sanction the good guys attempts at rewriting history.

In the case of Angus McMillan, would it be better to condemn him for his misdeeds, alongside his achievements? I doubt his name would be chosen for the electorate today and fair enough, but judgement without evidential trial in a time of different morality will not correct the actions of the past either.

Is there a Gunai/Kurnai name available to replace him or is the tribal name a suitable suggestion? I am not so sure.

Reply
Geoff Ellis
21/10/2017 04:50:46 pm

Peter,

Thanks for the kind words and I applaud your insightful broadening of the discussion. There's so much to consider and I guess every place and country has history, good and bad, to deal with and finding the right balance is the aim. You've given us more to think about, cheers.

Frank W Schooneveldt
21/10/2017 12:49:00 pm

Thank you for your article. This morning after reading an add in The AGE I wrote to the Redistribution Committee for Victoria Australian Electorate Commission to suggest that the name of Angus McMillan must be removed from the electorate because it represents so much sadness for our indigenous brothers and sisters who live in the electorate as well as for so many non - indigenous people who also live in the electorate. We offered three suggested name changes for the electorate.viz,
"The Gunai /Kurni Electorate" after the original inhabitants of the area, "The Warrigal Electorate" named after a tribe of Gunai/Kurni people who resided in the electorate or "The West Gippsland Electorate"which covers the area where the electorate sits.

Reply
Karen sandon link
21/10/2017 04:26:12 pm

Well written and thank you. I support your suggestions and would be pleased to see the opportunity given to Gunnai/Kurnai elders to choose the new name.

Reply
Marg Lynn
21/10/2017 06:54:49 pm

Well said, Geoff, as always. I applaud your sentiments and those of Rinchen and others who have commented. The Bass Coast South Gippsland Reconciliation Group has a process in train of working with a fully representative group of Gippsland’s Aboriginal organisations towards their selecting a name. I would ask those of you who plan to make a submission to the AEC to respect the right of an authentic Aboriginal voice to speak on this matter. While it is tempting to offer names, if we want the AEC to hear our recommendation of an Aboriginal choice, it would be great if people would commend that process. It is likely that the Aboriginal choice of name will be submitted at a later stage in the AEC’s commenting process.

Reply
Frank W Schooneveldt
21/10/2017 11:28:48 pm

Lynn,
I think there is a genuine desire for a change of name of the McMillan electorate and the more submissions to the AEC for a change the better. What name is your group suggesting?

Reply
Marg Lynn
22/10/2017 11:31:44 am

Thanks Frank, our preference is not to provide a name but to provide a rationale for the Aboriginal Community choosing a name. Aboriginal organisations have now settled on a process for getting together and working out a mutually acceptable name. I would hope that this process will be accepted and respected by the AEC and those of like mind who want to see an Aboriginal name chosen, as a small token of recompense for the hurt and pain inflicted by McMillan that has lasted to this day.

Mike Cleeland
22/10/2017 12:01:04 am

Let’s rename it Tarra Bulga after the National Park. Also acknowledges the role of Charlie Tarra, who provided invaluable assistance to Strzelecki.

Reply
Frank W Schooneveldt
22/10/2017 11:59:50 am

Marg,
That’s all good but the AEC have procedures and processes as well and are calling for suggestions of a name change by Friday 17th November2017. It will be interesting to see what Aboriginal and other organisations and individuals recommend as a name change.
What we must ensure that at this redistribution a name change occurs.
Cheers

Reply
Marg Lynn
22/10/2017 12:11:29 pm

Frank, I agree absolutely and I don't think we are contradicting each other. i believe there will be enough community pressure to impress on the AEC that there needs to be a change of name. That's part 1. Part 2 is then the naming and we believe that the AEC (and they have told us so) will accept later comment on the initial report, which is when the Aboriginal naming outcome can be presented.

Anne Davie
22/10/2017 11:03:46 am

Thank you again Geoff for raising this justice issue . Together we can use our voice through the Electoral Commission to right the terrible wrong, by the re-naming of the electorate of McMillan.

Reply
Geoff Ellis
22/10/2017 01:14:01 pm

Folks,

As per the AEC indicative timetable, up to November 17 we can make suggestions.

There will the be later invitations for comments on suggestions, objections to suggestions, comments on objections and one or two public hearings - the final recommendation won't be made until the middle of 2018 at the earliest.

It's a long conversation and its great to hear so many voices.

Reply
Marg Lynn
22/10/2017 04:28:05 pm

Thanks for the useful elaboration on the AEC process, Geoff.

Reply
Geoff Ellis
24/10/2017 07:01:49 am

The Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, which authorises the redistribution process, requires that all suggestions lodged with the Australian Electoral Commission be made publicly available.

Copies of all suggestions will be available from Monday 20 November 2017 for public inspection on the AEC website at www.aec.gov.au/vic-redistribution and at the office of the Australian Electoral Officer for Victoria on Level 8, Casselden, 2 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.

Please note that while the names of persons and organisations that lodge written suggestions will be published, signatures and personal address details (including email) will be removed prior to any publication.

From Monday 20 November 2017 the comments on suggestions period will commence.

During this period any individual or organisation can make a comment on any of the suggestions lodged, until 6pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) Friday 1 December 2017. Should you wish to make a comment, suggestions can be viewed as outlined above.

All suggestions are included in the report produced by the Redistribution Committee for Victoria. This report will be made available on the AEC website and will be tabled in Parliament at the conclusion of this redistribution.

Reply
Frank W Schooneveldt
24/10/2017 08:18:03 am

Geoff,
We received our acknowledgment of our suggestions for a change of name for the electorate from Ann Dougan Secretariat officer for the VIC Redistribution Secretariat AEC yesterday who outlined the process you mentioned.
We urge you all to write to the AEC requesting a change of name for the electorate. Go to www.aec.gov.au/vic-redistribution to submit your request.
Cheers

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Pamela Jacka
26/10/2017 06:27:21 pm

Thank you Geoff & Peter Brown for a well delivered explanation of the reasoning & process involved when considering such an important change. Prior to reading both of your inputs to this discussion, all I had heard have been emotive arguments and divisive words which make a bull (Taurean) like me dig my heels in! The emotion has now been removed and I am now able to look at the proposition in a much more rational frame of mind. Discussions are so much easier (and more productive) than debates & arguments, aren't they?

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Mark Robertson
28/10/2017 06:26:07 pm

Might I suggest that a non-anthropoid name be chosen,. After all , we have treated most of our indigenous species with world-beating contempt. Perhaps Karmai -the traditional name for our spectacular and (literally) downtrodden giant earthworm could be considered. We put our species on a pedestal, but in the grand scheme of things we are but a fleeting and destructive footnote in our planetary history, no matter what our colour or heritage

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Geoff Ellis
2/11/2017 11:34:30 am

What if we need to have an early election?

I've been reading the AEC 'how a mini-redistribution COULD work' - I hope it doesn't get to that stage but this is my draft simplification:

If the writs for a general election are issued after requirement of an additional seat has been gazetted but before a redistribution to that effect has been completed..............

1-- A list of all possible pairs of contiguous seats in the state is compiled and the total number of voters in each pair is calculated based on AEC enrolment figures from the previous month.

2-- A decision is made about which pair shall be redivided into three by the Electoral Commissioner. This is done within a week and without submission, purely considered on the numbers and for no purpose other than creating the extra seat to enable the election.

3-- These two seats then become three seats - The names of the original two seats are retained by their leftover chunks. The excised bits form a new electorate named after the other two bits, for instance you might have

McMillan; Indi; McMillan-Indi

5 - I reckon any new seat would most likely be in north west Melbourne but the problem is the seats with the most voters aren't adjacent and......

6 - As far as I can tell from my reading the next redistribution would then not be due for seven more years as the mini-redistribution and election render the current redistribution redundant.

So let’s hope the federal mob - I hesitate to call it a 'government' - can work out where they all came from and let this redistribution reach it's conclusion.

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Geoff Ellis
9/12/2017 11:19:40 pm

Comments on suggestions are able to be viewed at the AEC website - There is mounting pressure to rename McMillan, Batman and Gellibrand and no support for retention of 'McMillan' amidst the submissions. None.

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