Call to change Australian suburb’s ‘racist’ name

A row has broken out over a proposal to rename a locality in NSW branded “racist”. There are even calls for the Premier to get involved.

An Indigenous activist has thrown his weight behind a plan to rename a locality in New South Wales, the name of which has been slammed as racist.

Lake Macquarie councillors will tonight discuss whether to embark on a consultation process to rename Coon Island in Swansea, 25km south of Newcastle. The area straddles the Awabakal and Bahtabah lands.

But campaigner Stephen Hagan, who was instrumental in getting the Coon cheese name axed, has branded the council plan “disgraceful” for proposing a consultation rather than an instant renaming of the small island and adjacent spit.

A local Indigenous group has said the debate has led to “hurtful” and “unsavoury comments” directed at them.

Lake Macquarie City Council will meet tonight to discuss the name change. Supplied

RELATED: Coon rebrands as ‘Cheer’ cheese in the wake of racism claims

Liberal councillor Kevin Baker has proposed the motion. He told news.com.au Coon Island and the neighbouring Coon Island Point were both named after Herbert Heaney who, in 1915, was the first recorded permanent resident on the island.

“I’m not some left winger, ‘PC gone mad’ type,” he said.

“This is a different situation to Coon cheese. Herbert Heaney was white guy who worked in coal mines and would come out with coal dust on his face and got the nickname ‘coon’; it’s just not appropriate in this day and age.

“This name is very offensive to some in our community, has genuine racist connotations and I think there is a better way to represent the history of this island.”

This beautiful island in Lake Macquarie has an ugly moniker. Coon Island. Named after a local miner who would come home with a coal-blackened face. Is 2021 the year it should be renamed and for the racial slur to go? Bahtabah Aboriginal Land Council certainly thinks so. @nbnnews pic.twitter.com/OvxdtXIEgs

— Jane Goldsmith (@janegoldnbn) February 1, 2021

Mr Baker said it was possible the island and point could be dual named with an Indigenous name and another which preserves the memory of the coal miner. He suggested “Heaney Island” could be in the running.

Coon Island, north of Swansea on Lake Macquarie, is named after Herbert Heaney who was nicknamed ‘coon’. Picture: Google Maps.

‘DISGRACEFUL’

Mr Hagan, a long time campaigner for changing names with racist overtones including Coon cheese and a stadium stand in Queensland which featured a slur, backed the plan to change Coon Island’s name.

But talking to news.com.au he questioned why a consultation was even needed and said it was “disgraceful” it was not being renamed immediately.

“I spent almost a decade fighting to change the E.S. ‘N*****’ Brown stand name in Toowoomba back in 1999.

“To think that a nickname like this still exists after all the publicity I received for fighting against a racist nickname all those years ago is beyond comprehension.

“This should not be a council meeting to vote on a motion requesting community consultation for Coon Island renaming; this should be a vote on a motion to change the racist name to a local name ‘Galgabba’ that has long been endorsed by the Awabakal people, traditional owners of the area.”

Campaigner Stephen Hagan said the island should be renamed immediately and no consultation was needed.

Mr Hagan said he would call on NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to force a name change if one wasn’t agreed at tonight’s meeting.

However, Councillor Baker said consultation was a legal necessity before the names of any locations or suburbs could be officially changed. It would also give local Aboriginal land councils the chance to have their say.

“Any name change has to go through the Geographical Names Board and to do that you have to present a case and show you have consulted with the community.”

Mr Baker said he was “hopeful” his motion would be passed.

A sign displaying “Coon Island” on the shores of Lake Macquarie, NSW. Picture: Google Maps.

“EXTREMELY HURTFUL”

Chief executive officer of the Bahtabah Local Aboriginal Land Council Carol Proctor said she hoped a “respectful name” was chosen.

“This topic has brought about a lot of unsavoury comments directed at our Land Council which has been extremely hurtful.”

Speaking to news.com.au in a personal capacity, Ms Proctor said she it was “time for a name change” as the current name was “derogatory”.

“I am happy for the name change to go to public consultation as it gives not only our members an opportunity to make comment but also the local community as well.”

Coon cheese will be renamed Cheer cheese in July.

RELATED: Cheese rebrand campaigner says he has copped abuse from ‘rednecks’

In January, Canadian dairy giant Saputo said Coon cheese, an Australian supermarket staple, would be renamed “Cheer” from this July.

The company said it decided to retire the longstanding name as the Black Lives Matter movement made its way around the globe.

The brand was named after Edward William Coon, who pioneered a cheese ripening process in the US called “cooning”.

However, the Australian cheese was named only “in recognition” of Mr Coon, rather than the product being directly descended from the man himself or his company.

“I’ve never had a problem with someone by the name Mr Coon; the problem has always been this myth that Coon cheese is from Edward William Coon,” Mr Hagan told news.com.au in January.

According to Mr Hagan, Coon cheese had such a weak link to Mr Coon it wasn’t even made using the cooning method.

“I‘m happy with the name change; the new name doesn’t worry me but I wish they’d changed the packaging too,” he said.

“If you look at the packaging quickly, you’d think it was still Coon cheese.”