Indigenous names for new schools

273089_01

Two Hume schools set to open next year have been given Indigenous names.

The state government announced the new names for Lockerbie and Merrifield South primary schools on Tuesday, August 1.

They 12 other new government schools opening next year which were given Indigenous names by the government.

Lockerbie Primary School in Kalkallo will be known as Banum Warrik Primary School.

According to the Victorian School Building Authority (VBA), Banum Warrik is pronounced bar-num warr-rik and are Woi-wurrung words of the Wurundjeri people meaning grassy plains.

Banum Warrik Primary School will welcome up to 525 students when the first stage of the school is complete.

Merrifield South Primary School in Mickleham will be known as Yubup Primary School.

Yubup (pronounced you-boup) is a Woi-wurrung word of the Wurundjeri people meaning parakeet, according to the VBA.

The school will welcome up to 650 students once the first stage is complete.

The government said that for the first time, the 2024 new school naming process consulted on a short-list of Aboriginal language names, receiving more than 7000 submissions.

Education Minister Natalie Hutchins said the new schools will ensure growing communities have local education and an “unique connection to the land” through their Indigenous names.