Locals question naming conventions as pronunciation explanation needed for new school's Indigenous-inspired name
The recent naming of a new school in the Werribee community has sparked controversy and outrage among locals. Originally known as Lollypop Creek Secondary School during the planning and construction phase, the school has now been officially named Walcom Ngarrwa Secondary College (pronounced wel-cum nar-wa). The name, derived from Wadawurrung words meaning “steps to knowledge,” was chosen following a two-week community consultation.
Bradley Moyle, an experienced education leader, has been appointed as the principal of Walcom Ngarrwa Secondary College. With over 20 years of experience in various educational settings, Moyle aims to equip today’s students to be leaders and active community members. He expressed his excitement to work with the Werribee community and support all learners to achieve their best.
Set to open its doors in Term 1, 2024, Walcom Ngarrwa Secondary College will boast modern facilities, including a design, arts, technology, and science (DATS) building, a learning neighborhood, hard courts, and a car park. Additionally, a community hub is being delivered to foster a sense of togetherness.
The school’s design was the result of extensive consultation with local Traditional Owners represented by the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation. This process involved seeking feedback and advice on various aspects, such as local Indigenous plantings, cultural stories and histories, translations of Indigenous words, and design elements to promote cultural education and understanding.
Despite these efforts, not everyone in the community is content with the new school name. Many residents have taken to social media, particularly Facebook, to voice their discontent. One resident, Milana, expressed her dissatisfaction with the name, stating, “Definitely not happy with this name. They should have done better. I can see the community doesn’t like this name at all.” Similarly, George highlighted the need to include pronunciation instructions in the official announcement, suggesting that the name choice was questionable.
Wyndham City Council are forging ahead with it's Reconciliation Action Plan
Major Road Closures Ahead
Landlord Licences Proposed
Meanwhile, Jodie went as far as to say, “Yuck, what a horrible name. What is with everything having to have an Aboriginal name? How about we just name these schools something normal and something that doesn’t come with instructions on how to pronounce it.”
A local Facebook group online poll conducted to gauge public sentiment managed to garner 218 votes. The majority of participants favoured the initial name, Lollypop Creek Secondary School, followed by Harpley Secondary School, with Walcom Ngarrwa coming in third.
Brad Moyle, the Foundation Principal, defended the school’s new name, reiterating its significance. In a social media post, he shared, “It is now official – we have our school name! Our name comes from the words of our traditional owners, the Wadawurrung People, meaning steps to knowledge.” He also thanked the community for its support and promised more information, including the school logo, would be revealed shortly.
Lollypop Creek Specialist School has also undergone a renaming and is now known as Nganboo Borron School (pronounced naan-boo bore-on), which translates to “children first, nurturing on your shoulder.”
Similarly, Black Forest East Primary School has been renamed as Laa Yulta Primary School (pronounced la yule-ta), signifying “many stones.”
The naming debate has ignited conversations about cultural sensitivity and the balance between honoring Indigenous heritage and ensuring names are accessible to the broader community. As the school gears up to welcome its first Year 7 students in January 2024, the community remains divided over the appropriateness of the chosen name, Walcom Ngarrwa Secondary College.
