Rosebud West residents hope new name will lift struggle town stigma
WHAT’S in a name? A lot for some people living in a suburb in Melbourne’s south, who say a new name would give the area a much-needed boost.
South East
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A PASSIONATE group of people living in Rosebud West wants the suburb renamed Capel Sound — and the MP fully backs the idea.
The lobby group believes a new name will instil pride in the area and help shed the stigma attached to the suburb, which was last week named one of the state’s struggle towns.
Long-time resident Terry Wright, who is leading the push, said Rosebud West was a “phenomenal place”.
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“It’s a fantastic place to live, but people don’t necessarily see that,” Mr Wright 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?”
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Nepean state Liberal MP Martin Dixon told the Leader renaming the suburb Capel Sound — the stretch of water from Whitecliffs in Rye to Rosebud West — would help create a new identity for the community and stop it being seen as an extension of Rosebud.
Mr Wright said the determined group of 12 felt it was time to “put up or shut up” after discussing a name change for years.
The group has 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.
“All in all it seems there is strong support for the change,” he said.
The group will soon ask Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to consider changing postcode 3940 from Rosebud West to Capel Sound.
Mr Wright said many people were familiar with the proposed moniker, first used in an 1836 survey chart, 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.