On July 10, during NAIDOC week, around fifty people
braved an Antarctic day to attend a ceremony acknowledging the renaming of the
old Calder Highway between Elphinstone and Harcourt after a respected
Aboriginal figure of the late 19th Century.
Mount Alexander Shire Council made the decision in 2012
to rename the road Harmony Way after Henry "Harmony" Nelson, one of
the 'apical' elders of the Dja Dja Wurrung clan. The Dja Dja Wurrung are
recognised traditional owners of the area, and Henry was one of only eighteen
individuals whose descendants can be regarded as members of the clan.
Appropriately, the ceremony was held beside the scar tree
in Stanley Park, where new signage explaining the name and Henry's association
with the region has also been erected.
Henry was born around 1855 and spent much of his youth in
the area, as well as travelling between major centres of traditional activity
throughout his long life. Despite being removed under duress to Cummeragunja
and Framlingham, he and his descendants maintained a connection to the area,
and several generations of Nelsons now reside here.
The suggestion to rename the highway came about as a
result of community consultation and representations made to Council and
VicRoads from several local people, as well as the Nelsons and the Dja Dja
Wurrung. An alternative suggestion, Mount Alexander Road, gained support in a
survey but was not supported by submissions, leading the Council to lean toward
Harmony Way.
Mayor, Michael Redden, rather dryly outlined the somewhat
lengthy process undertaken to first decide on a name, then guide the decision
through State Government and VicRoads channels. However he spoke with clear
pride of his and other Councillors' support of the result and its significance
to both indigenous and non-indigenous Shire residents and visitors.
"This significant honour provides lasting
recognition of Henry Harmony Nelson, a prominent figure in the history of the
Dja Dja Wurrung people," he said.
Uncle Rick Nelson, himself an elder of the local Jaara
Jaara people and a direct descendant of Henry, agreed the decision had meant a
lot to the Nelson family, the Jaara Jaara and all the Dja Dja Wurrung.
"If my father (Brien, Henry's great grandson) could
be here today he would be beaming with pride, happiness and honour," he
said. "I thank the Mount Alexander Shire and Mayor Redden for supporting
such a monumental proposal."
