First Nations peoples are slamming Victorian Premier Dan Andrews for an election promise he made that involves renaming Maroondah Hospital (which bears an Aboriginal name in the Woiwurrung language) to something that honours… Queen Elizabeth II.
There are multiple obvious reasons as to why this is an awful, abhorrent and frankly stupid decision on Andrews’ part. I mean surely he realised that naming a hospital after the leader of a racist, colonising nation and removing its current Aboriginal name is just insulting, right?
The rename was part of a $1 billion pledge Andrews made to improve the hospital “from the ground up.”
DjabWurrung Gunnai Gunditjmara woman and Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe slammed the decision on Twitter, saying that Andrews was attempting to “colonise us, again.”
Given the history of Queen Elizabeth II’s family and all the terrible things she represented, Thorpe is correct in saying that Andrews’ renaming decision is an act of colonisation.
This is not what Treaty looks like, Dan. Maroondah is a Woiwurrung word meaning leaf, which symbolises Maroondah’s green environment. What an insult to now colonise us, again. https://t.co/sffcOn5ESA
— Senator Lidia Thorpe (@SenatorThorpe) September 18, 2022
Nira illim bulluk man and co-chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly Marcus Stewart also criticised Andrews’ proposed rename.
“With just a few words the government has turned the Maroondah hospital into a culturally unsafe place for our people,” he told The Guardian.
“This is a stark reminder of why treaty is so critical, it can put an end to the hurtful platitudes of the powerful.”
Some thoughts on the new name. https://t.co/NFn9uXnqxn pic.twitter.com/nPoHxpLh3p
— Marcus Stewart (@marcusbstewart) September 19, 2022
Jill Gallagher, Chief Executive of the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO), told The Age that the proposed rename was “deeply insulting”.
“Whilst we are surrounded by British culture in this country, Aboriginal culture and the Aboriginal way of life are almost invisible.
“Renaming the Maroondah Hospital will see yet another piece of our culture erased and replaced by the culture of the invaders.”
“The capital of Victoria is named after a British Prime Minister — it never ends.”
Maroondah Hospital is the only hospital I can think of in Victoria with an Aboriginal name. Inclusive healthcare starts from the signage on.
The funding and expansion is much needed, but I hope such a beloved and inclusive name can remain. https://t.co/afVOY9eNea
— Dr Neela Janakiramanan (@NeelaJan) September 18, 2022
Andrews has defended his proposed decision claiming that because the hospital is getting a complete fix-up, it will be considered a “new hospital” worthy of a “new name”.
“We are going to get on and get this done and some may not agree with that, but they are the decisions we’ve made and the announcements we’ve made, and that’s what we’ll push on and get done.”
Quite the ridiculous hill to die on, Danny boy.
There is currently a petition to stop Dan Andrews from renaming Maroondah Hospital with over 7,000 signatures.
