The Epping Animal Welfare Facility will be renamed to the wat djerring Animal Facility.
The new name comes after the facility was recently relaunched under the management of Whittlesea council in partnership with Merri-bek and Darebin councils.
The new name means ‘we together’ and was chosen after consultation with the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation (WWWCHAC).
Council administrators endorsed the name change on Monday night, and will now submit it to Geographic Names Victoria for formal approval.
Administrator’s chair Lydia Wilson said it was part of a new era for the facility.
“The facility operates as the pound for three councils and we wanted a more inclusive name that acknowledged the cultural heritage of the land and reflected the purpose of the facility; to reconnect people with their pets and to give animals a fresh start,” she said.
“I’d like to thank the WWWCHAC for their support in suggesting such a meaningful rich name that really captures the strong values our community places on pet ownership and in so doing helps to bring to life the vision for a new beginning for the facility.”
Administrator Chris Eddy said he supported the name change but it was important the community was educated on the renaming.
“The title obliviously will take some getting used to for people,” he said.
“Once people get to understand the meeting and practice the name I think it will become part of the community in no time at all.
The name is pronounced “wot jerring” – the ‘dj’ sound is not known in the English language but is a combination of the two sounds. They are pronounced together, but there is more emphasis on the ‘j’.
The new name will be accompanied with new branding designed by Aboriginal artist De Greer-Yindimincarlie at YindiArtz.
