Council are seeking community opinion on what to call a new family centre under construction in Manor Lakes.
Locals are invited to vote on a name for the new $8.2m community facility from four proposed options that reflect aboriginal history, location and local environment.
Works began on the Manor Lakes North Integrated Family Centre (interim name) in early 2022, and it is expected to open three and four-year-old kindergarten, maternal child health and other family support services to support the growing community.
The list of names for the centre was compiled in consultation with the Registered Aboriginal Party, the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, who provided two of the name options for the new centre; Marna Family Centre and Birnbial Family Centre.
Marna, an Aboriginal name, means ‘hand’ and Birnbial, means ‘rainbow’.
Other name options Grey Box Family Centre, to represent the grey box tree that grows near the future centre, and Holyoake Parade Family Centre, referencing the family centre’s street name, Holyoake Parade.
Manor Lakes is a high growth area of Wyndham City, with the number of residents set to quadruple over the next 20 years, from nearly 11,000 in 2022 to more than 41,000 residents in 2041.
Welcoming city portfolio holder and Co-Chair of the Wyndham Reconciliation Advisory Committee, Cr Jennie Barrera, said council is working to create integrated support networks for the municipality’s growing community.
“The new Family Centre in Manor Lakes will help our residents, especially young families, connect with key services, programs and their neighbours,” Cr Barrera said.
“Consulting with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation to provide name options that reference Aboriginal Heritage in Wyndham is a wonderful outcome for our community and a great example of our work toward reconciliation.”
Locals can vote for their favourite name for the community centre to Friday, June 24.
Details: theloop.wyndham.vic.gov.au/naming-manorlakesnorth
