Community
29 January, 2025
New trail name draws marginal support
JUST over half of all respondents have given their support to officially naming the Timboon-Port Campbell Trail as Poorpa Yanyeen Meerreeng.
More than 120 people gave their feedback on the proposed trail name with 54 per cent in support of the name which means ‘Travel through Country’.
Shire Economy and Prosperity manager Katy McMahon said council was required under the Geographic Place Names Act 1998 to register a formal name.
She said council had worked with Keerray Wooroong language expert Dr Vicki Couzens to provide a name for the trail.
“The working title for the trail is commonly known as the Twelve Apostles Trail however the Geographic Naming Victoria (GNV) advised the name Twelve Apostles Trail would be non-compliant because the trail does not finish at the Twelve Apostles and creates a false expectation in visitors that they can reach the Twelve Apostles via the trail,” Ms McMahon said.
“Initial discussions for formally naming the trail in 2022 presented an opportunity to involve Traditional Owners via the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation (EMAC).”
Ms McMahon said Poorpa Yanyeen Meerreeng is an invitation to travel through country and connect with a culture and language which spans many thousands of years around Port Campbell and Timboon.
“The aim is to spark conversations around our shared history and connection to place,” she said.
Councillor Jamie Vogels said there was a “bit of to and fro in the community” about the suggested name.
He suggest an informal dual name process as an ideal solution where the official name would be Poorpa Yanveen Meerreeng and colloquially it could be the Timboon-Port Campbell Trail.
“It’s a fantastic connection between Port Campbell and Timboon,” Cr Vogels said.
“We’ve got a fantastic asset, hopefully it goes well into the future.”
Cr Ruth Gstrein thanked the 128 respondents for taking the time to respond to the survey.
“I appreciate it (the suggested name) is a bit of a mouthful,” she said.
“I encourage people to look at the Aboriginal name and get familiar with it.”
Lake Elingamite Ward Cr Kate Makin said, living in Timboon, she knows how the community feels about the name change.
“They often come up to me and have this discussion about the trail name,” she said.
“I understand there is hesitation to adopt this name, but we here at council are saying that the Poorpa Yanyeen Meerreeng name is the official name but we are branding it as it will still have the Timboon-Port Campbell trail name on there as well.
“While it’s not officially a dual name as such, people will still name it what they want to name and it will probably become common knowledge that it will be the Timboon-Port Campbell Trail.”
Read More: Port Campbell, Timboon