Nearly 60 per cent of respondents to a survey in Moreland have chosen Woi-wurrung word Merri-bek as a new council name.
A community in Melbourne's inner north have decided on a new Indigenous name for their council after a push to replace a decades-old name linked to slavery.Merri-bek is a Woi-wurrung word meaning "rocky country"Moreland City Council will decide on Sunday whether to adopt the new name of Merri-bek, which means "rocky country" in the Woi-wurrung language.
Merri-bek beat out other options Jerrang and Wa-dam-buk comfortably, with more than half of respondents selecting it. "We believe this is the most engagement we've ever had on a council project," Moreland Mayor Mark Riley said. Sunday's special council meeting represents the first step in officially changing the name, with the renaming then needing to be approved by Minister for Local Government Shaun Leane.“It could take a few weeks or a few months after that for it to be decided," Cr Riley said.Cr Riley said that due to the "racist and offensive" nature of the current name, there was no possibility that the council would continue under its current title.
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