THE $33 million Cowes Community and Cultural Centre is set to get a new name – ‘Berninneit’.

Following a community consultation process, where the name was endorsed by 403 of the 731 people who voted (65%), the following recommendation will go up to the Bass Coast Shire Council this week:

“That Council endorse the name ‘Berninneit’ to be submitted to the Registrar of Geographic Names for consideration as the name for the new cultural facility at 60 Church Street, Cowes.”

But surely it will be ‘Berninneit Cultural Centre’ or ‘Berninneit Community Centre’, although that detail hasn’t been revealed in the agenda documents for next Wednesday’s council meeting.

The voting on the four naming options provided to Council by the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation went as follows: Barmewoon (Only My Strength) 23, Mogarmarlarly Murk (Lead Me) 24, Berninneit (Gather Together) 403, Kummargee (Rise Up) 153 and no vote 128.

The majority of respondents were supportive of having a first nations’ language name for the centre, including with such comments:

· “Delighted that we will honour our First Nations people and that their presence will be at the heart of this new community asset.”

· “I am so glad that the name of the cultural centre will reflect First Nations peoples.”

· “Reading all the names is difficult when it is not your first language, but once heard, the words are easily learnt, and we should all try to be inclusive in our use of language. However, for the reluctant, I would like a bye line such as “the coming together place”.

The Cowes Community and Cultural Centre is on target to be opened later this year.