Lake Monger Primary School: Fears as parents may be forced to front the bill on planned Indigenous name change

Families at a Perth primary school considering changing its name should not be forced to foot the bill of the rebrand, the State’s peak body for public school parents has warned. Lake Monger Primary School is looking into altering its title after the wetland it was named for was officially rebadged as Galup in June, with the cost estimated to be at least $50,000. Expenses associated with the name change — likely to include new uniforms, signs, stationery, the website and administration support — would have to come out of the school’s coffers. According to the school board’s meeting records, projected costs include $10,000 for signage, $2000 for website changes and $40,000 for additional staff. WA Council of State School Organisations president Pania Turner said the school’s P&C should not be expected to fund-raise to cover the costs of a name switch. “We would not expect families to bear the burden of any costs associated with a name change,” she said. The board documents reveal the Education Department’s regional office was keen for the school to consider a name change, but there had been limited discussion in the school community. They said a change would require application to the director-general of schools first, followed by community consultation, then the submission of three options. An Aboriginal name would require approval from a local elder. “There is a business case put forward to consider funding support for name change,” it said. A department spokesperson confirmed it does not allocate a budget for the name change process. “If the name change is approved, the school will likely incur costs for administration, new signage, stationery and uniforms,” they said. “If funding is required for a name change, it is drawn from school funding at the principal’s discretion. “The process for changing the name of a school is led by the school principal and is required to be consistent with the Department of Education’s Naming of Public Schools and Facilities Policy and Procedure. “When the principal has completed community consultation for three proposed names and recommended a preferred name, the department submits the recommended name to the Minister for Education for consideration.” The school has changed its name previously. It was known as Wandarra (meeting place) Primary when the school started in 1954. Landgate officially reinstated the lake’s Whadjuk Noongar name, Galup, meaning “place where the home fires burn”, in June after it was formally endorsed by the State’s Geographic Names Committee. The lake had been named after John Henry Monger, who purchased the land in 1831, and went on to become one of the richest men in WA at the time. The site has been a significant place for Whadjuk Noongar families for thousands of years. It is believed between 30 and 40 Noongar people were killed there in 1830.