Merri-bek endorsed for new Council name

Community, councillors and members of the Traditional Owner community have come together today to celebrate Council’s recommendation to change its corporate name to Merri-bek. 

Following a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony at Glenroy Community Hub this morning, a Special Council Meeting took place where Council officially endorsed Merri-bek as the preferred name. 

Transitioning to a Woi-wurrung name is part of Council’s commitment to walking together with the Traditional Owners, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elders, in reconciliation. 

Every resident and business owner was mailed information on the renaming project, with more than 6300 community members having their say by mail or online. 

Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elders put forward three words in Woi-wurrung language for the community to consider. 

Merri-bek, meaning ‘rocky country’ was the favourite, supported by 59 per cent of respondents, followed by Jerrang (22 per cent), meaning ‘leaf of tree’, and Wa-dam-buk (13 per cent), meaning ‘renew’. 

The celebrations will continue this afternoon with NAIDOC Week activities including crafts, a tree planting, and a performance by Djirri Djirri dancers. 

The endorsed name recommendation will now be submitted to the Minister for Local Government for consideration, with final approval by Governor in Council. 

It is expected that Council will begin changing its corporate name on digital materials and major signage later this year. For more information on the project, visit the Conversations Merri-bek page.