Child and Family Centre names to recognise Aboriginal heritage

The City of Greater Geelong is proposing to use the local Wadawurrung language in the names of two new child and family centres, as a way of recognising and celebrating our region’s Aboriginal heritage.

If given final approval, the Purnell Road Child and Family Centre in Corio will be named Korayn Birralee Family Centre. Korayn Birralee means ‘Corio children’.

Likewise, the new centre in Drysdale will be named Bella wiyn Birralee Family Centre, Drysdale. Bella wiyn Birralee means ‘Bellarine children’.

Both names have been created, agreed upon and approved by traditional land owners from the Wathaurung Aboriginal Corporation.

The community will get the chance to have a say on the names via the Have Your Say page from next week. The matter will then come before council for a final decision.

Being built at a cost of $13.3 million each, the two centres will offer a modern, state-of-the-art and integrated facility for local families.

Both buildings feature:

  • Daycare
  • Sessional kindergarten
  • Maternal child health consulting rooms
  • Family support services
  • Multi-purpose and community rooms
  • A toy library
  • Outdoor play areas
  • Car parking

The two facilities are both scheduled to open in term one, 2020.

Councillor Stephanie Asher – Mayor

It’s great to see our Aboriginal history being acknowledged through the naming of these two new centres.

Both facilities will be amazing and we look forward to their opening early next year.

Councillor Anthony Aitken – Windermere Ward

We have a long way to go in Geelong in terms of reconciliation with our first people. This process of looking for opportunities to use appropriate Aboriginal language in naming our new assets is a positive step from the council, and I hope we can find more opportunities in the near future.

Councillor Jim Mason – Bellarine Ward

The new centre in Drysdale will be an important asset for young families and I’m pleased it will have a name that recognises the area’s Aboriginal heritage, especially given this is the Year of Indigenous Languages.

The Wathaurung Aboriginal Corporation have been consulted on the proposed names, which is very important.

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