Wendy Droney, Campbells Creek
As the fourth of six generations of ‘Creekers’, I have no words to describe my feelings when I read eight words at the bottom of the apt headline ‘A TOWN DIVIDED’ on the front page of the Castlemaine Mail, May 22, 2026 and ‘the renaming Campbells Creek to an Indigenous name’ which was added on to yet another controversial, council generated article.
Unfortunately, controversy and divided public opinion appears to be a weekly occurrence in this our shire in recent times.
The water from Campbells Creek runs through my veins as it has through those of my ancestors who, history has shown, were heavily committed to ensuring Campbells Creek, both the town and the waterway, thrived in so many ways.
I have no problem in name changes providing there is a valid reason for doing so, perhaps to recognise an exceptional contribution, but this item was apparently listed on the agenda makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Community consultation in June 2025? Just how transparent are these ‘community consultations’ and particularly only 100 residents were consulted? (page 129 of the May 19 council minutes).
Yet again we are experiencing change for the sake of change and not for the first time either. I defy anyone who had had the misfortune to be notified that their loved one had been admitted to Dhelkaya Health not to be able to guess their first question, walk down the street and verbally ask people the ‘new’ name of Jim Crow Creek (‘verbally’ to prevent Googling) and the outcome would be very predictable.
Unfortunately, it would appear that elected councillors no longer seek the input of ratepayers in their riding but instead use the local government forum to represent particular political parties, minority groups and unidentified social media users who have either got a ‘locked profile’ or some totally identifiable name, or, in the case of the photo on the front page of the Mail, hide behind a placard causing me to seriously question the courage of their convictions.
Councillors, you were elected to represent the ratepayers in your riding, maybe some, and I’m not saying all, need to show some interest in the opinions of the people who elected them and act accordingly.
One can only hope that commonsense will once again prevail in local government as it has in the past or there might just become a time when the need for a third tier of government is questioned.