Push for Rosebud West to be renamed Capel Sound gathers steam
A SMALL but determined lobby group has formally handed over a proposal to Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to rename Rosebud West to Capel Sound.
South East
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THE moniker ‘Rosebud West’ ruins the “poetry” of the peninsula, claims the man leading the push to rename the struggletown suburb.
Longtime resident Terry Wright, who is attracting plenty of attention after Leader revealed his campaign to change the suburb’s name to Capel Sound, said there had been mainly positive reactions to the idea.
Mr Wright and the rest of a small but determined lobby group has formally handed over its renaming proposal to Mornington Peninsula Shire Council.
“It is a comprehensive and well-argued proposal with a lot of evidence,” he said. “I can’t see council not acting on it given the evidence we have provided.”
Related: Rosebud West residents hope new name will lift struggle town stigma
The shire council will now assess community views by advertising the proposal and writing to every ratepayer in Rosebud West. Council staff will then summarise the feedback so council can decide to proceed or abandon the suggestion.
If councillors vote in favour of the proposal, Victoria’s Office of Geographical Names will need to ratify the new name. The process could take several months.
Mr Wright and the lobby group interviewed 252 people in eight residential areas and two business areas over the past few months.
Mr Wright said residents were five-to-one in favour of the name change, and businesses along Point Nepean Rd were eight-to-one in favour, with opinion divided in the industrial estate. Local MP Martin Dixon backs the name change proposal.
Mr Wright said ‘Rosebud West’ tended to “ruin the poetry” of the place names on the peninsula.
“How much better would the poetry of the peninsula be if it was Capel Sound instead of Rosebud West?” Mr Wright said
At the moment we have Portsea, Sorrento, Blairgowrie, Rye, Tootgarook, Rosebud West, Rosebud, McCrae, Dromana ... it would sound so much better to have Capel Sound in the list.”
Locals have taken to social media, commenting on the proposed name change, with one saying it was sad there was a “judgmental mindset” on the peninsula.
“The place is beautiful ... enjoy it ... but don’t label it!” the reader posted.
Mr Wright said the renaming aimed — more than anything else — to create an individual identity for Rosebud West.
“Suburbs are forgotten when they have directional names — and we just want our own identity,” he said. “The name change is about trying to help people feel good about where they are. We have an incredible environment with the bay, world-class wetlands and beautiful sandy beaches. Residentially, it is something that is fast disappearing: a meandering network of quiet streets with plenty of space. Aren’t we lucky?”
Mr Wright said many people were familiar with the proposed moniker through The Capel Sound Shopping Village and The Capel Sound Foreshore.
But fellow resident Juanita Aitken, who has held various community positions over the past 40 years, said the idea was “stupid” and “rubbish”.
“I’m sure his (Mr Wright’s) heart is in the right place, but I think it’s a waste of time, money and effort,” Mrs Aitken said. “Just because a place is called ‘Paradise’ doesn’t mean it is a paradise.”
The campaign comes as the Dropping Off The Edge 2015 report last week named Rosebud West as one of Victoria’s most disadvantaged communities.
*Why Capel Sound?
Capel Sound is the stretch of water from Whitecliffs in Rye to Rosebud West. The name was first used in an 1836 survey chart. Mr Wright said the Sound was probably named after Thomas Bladen Capel, who was the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Navy’s Far East squadron.
How would this affect mail?
According to Mr Wright, Australia Post directs mail according to postcode, not name. Rosebud West’s 3940 postcode is unique so there would be no interruption to mail.
Find out more about the campaign at capelsound3940.org