Ngunawal Mob Talk About Language - Dual Names for Yass?

By NSW Dept of Aboriginal Affairs

Members of the Ngunawal community of south-western New SouthWales and the Australian Capital Territory met recently in Yass for an Aboriginal Languages and Placenames Workshop.

This was the last in the initial phase of a program of such workshops throughout NSW sponsored by the Department and co-ordinated by the Asia-Pacific Institute of Toponymy (the study of placenames) at Macquarie University, in conjunction with the NSW Geographical Names Board.

The day-long workshop was organised by Dean Bell, and other members of the Ngunawal community.

"The workshop allowed the community to discuss reviving local Aboriginal cultural traditions and language, researching placenames, options for archiving research and how to make proposals for new official names, dual names or name changes.

"The workshop had the support of Yass Mayor, Mr Nic Carmody, who is very much in favour of these aims, as they tie in with the Council's program of 'Reconciliation by Recognition'.

"Under the dual-naming policy of the NSW Geographical Names Board traditional Aboriginal names can be recognised and accorded equal status with names given to geographical features since European settlement" Mr Bell said.

Places in NSW that have already been dual-named under this policy include Dawes Point/Tar-ra, South Creek/Wianamatta and a set of 20 locations on Sydney Harbour whose dual names were finalised in January 2005. It is hoped that as a result of the series of regional workshops, and continuing liaison between local communities and the relevant agencies, more dual names and traditional Aboriginal names will appear on the map in other parts of the state. Speakers at the workshop included Dr Jaky Troy, Director of the Deptartment, NSW Aboriginal Languages Research and Resource Centre; Greg Windsor, Secretary of the Geographical Names Board of NSW; Lorraine Bayliss and Greg Norman from the ACT Government Planning and Land Authority; Dr Michael Walsh from the University of Sydney; Dr Harold Koch from the Australian National University; and Flavia Hodges, Director of the Asia-Pacific Institute for Toponymy.

Other workshops held during the twelve-month program have included Coffs Harbour, Wellington, Armidale, Lightning Ridge, Blackheath, Nowra, Casino, Newcastle and Deniliquin.