Uncle Jimmys Creek proposal open for public feedback

A two-year long fight to have a creek named after a legendary First Nations man, possibly for the first time in Queensland’s history, is nearing the finish line. POLL.

A two-year long fight to name a Gympie region creek after a traditional owner – possibly the first decision of its kind in Queensland’s history – is nearing the finish line.

An unnamed Glastonbury creek has been at the centre of a push by councillors and Indigenous elders alike to be renamed “Uncle Jimmys Creek” (the name deliberately leaves out an apostrophe to promote consistency and enable Emergency Services to find places quickly) after a First Nations man from the 1800s whose story was passed down through the region’s settlers.

The idea was first brought to council in a July 2020 meeting, after Butchulla elder Aunty Lillian Burke and her close friend Rae Gibbs approached Gympie Councillor Dolly Jensen about it.

Now, nearly two years later, they are finally seeing some progress.

On April 1, the Queensland State Government invited public feedback on the proposal to rename the creek, much to the joy of local councillors and elders.

Proposal for Uncle Jimmys Creek by the State Government. The name deliberately excludes an apostrophe to promote consistency and to enable Emergency Services to find places quickly and efficiently by reducing the potential for confusion of similar place names.

Ms Jensen said she was unable to comment officially but said the council would be delighted if the naming of the creek would be confirmed in time for reconciliation week.

She took to Facebook to express her excitement at the progress.

There, she said she was first approached by Aunty Lillian and Rae during the 2020 reconciliation week, which had its celebrations cancelled due to Covid.

“I asked the mayor Glen Hartwig to move a mayoral minute to make this happen,” she said.

According to documents from that meeting on July 22, 2020, no one opposed this suggestion.

However, the project remained at a standstill for some time.

Ms Jensen said this was due to the fact the renaming of creeks was the responsibility of the Queensland Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Department (DNRME), rather than the council.

“It has taken some time but we’re nearly there,” she said.

Butchulla elder Aunty Lillian Burke told the Gympie Times the project held immense cultural significance, and was possibly the first time in Queensland’s history such a move was happening.

Councillor Dolly Jensen (left) and Butchulla Elder Aunty Lillian Burke (right) in 2020, when Aunty Lillian unveiled a new monument in Memorial Park on to honour all known and unknown Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service men and women.

The story of Uncle Jimmy was one Aunty Lillian holds close, she said, as during the 1800s, First Nations peoples were seen as beneath white Australians and had very few rights.

The fact Uncle Jimmy’s story, of a man who may have escaped slavery and lived freely, was still being told today was incredibly significant, Aunty Lillian said.

She added Uncle Jimmy also represented Indigenous peoples who endured injustice and had to find a way to survive at that time.

The story has been handed down for generations through the Betts family – the first white settlers in Glastonbury – and then to the First Nations peoples of the Gympie region.

According to the story, Uncle Jimmy was known to have camped by the creek while he worked throughout the Glastonbury region in the 1800s.

“It touches my heart”: Butchulla Elder Aunty Lillian Burke said the proposal of officially naming Uncle Jimmys Creek was of great cultural significance.

Aunty Lillian said to her knowledge, naming Uncle Jimmys Creek, was a historic moment for Indigenous peoples everywhere.

Through tears, she said “It touches my heart … It’s like a long hard journey”.

Aunty Lillian said she wanted to thank the Gympie Regional Council for listening, for acknowledging and recognising the region’s Indigenous history and for moving to close the gap.

Consultation on naming Uncle Jimmys Creek will close on June 3, 2022.

Click here to have your say

Originally published as Uncle Jimmys Creek proposal open for public feedback