A new family centre under construction in Manor Lakes will be named in collaboration with the Wyndham community.
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 in early 2023 to support the growing community with three and four-year-old kindergarten, maternal child health and other family support services.
The shortlist 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’ in language. A second proposed Aboriginal name option, Birnbial, means ‘rainbow’ in language.
Grey Box Family Centre and Holyoake Parade Family Centre are two other name options. A Grey Box Tree (Eucalyptus macrocarpa) grows near the future centre and is a species listed on the National Trust Significant Tree Register and will soon be included on Wyndham’s Significant Tree Register.
‘Holyoake Parade Family Centre’ has been put forward as a simple, location-based option directly 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: “We’re working to create integrated support networks for our growing community, and the new Family Centre in Manor Lakes will help our residents, especially young families, connect with key services, programs and their neighbours.”
“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,” said Councillor Barrera.
Locals can vote for their favourite name for the community centre to Friday 24 June:
