James Cook University has renamed their Mount Isa campus, Murtupuni, recognising the Kalkadoon traditional owners of the region.
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The Kalkadoon name was unveiled at a ceremony at the JCU campus on Wednesday December 9, attended by Kalkadoon elders, JCU delegates and local dignitaries.
Mount Isa-based professor Sabina Knight said the decision to change the name of the campus had been in the works for many years but was brought to fruition with the upcoming 50 year anniversary of JCU.
"Many years ago we began the conversation around a name for our centre. During that time, Kalkadoon elder and regular JCU supporter Uncle Clive Sam, made a suggestion to use Kalkadoon terms to name the campus. He said 'why don't you use Murtupuni, it means coming together'. So I wrote it down, but the time wasn't right," Prof Knight said.
"Last year when we got the request to be thinking about JCU 50th anniversary, we engaged with Auntie Barbara Sam and other Kalkadoon elders in the community to consider what would be the correct name. A wise range of names and terms were considered but it was decided it would be as Uncle Clive suggested. We are really pleased about that because it describes us and what we do."
Kalkadoon elder Auntie Barbara Sam said it was nice to recognise the traditional owners but also Uncle Clive.
"Clive was a person who stood for his family. His passion was about community and culture, his language he spoken always. He was a didgeridoo player and he loved it, he worked with organisations, schools and mining companies, that was what he loved the most," she said.
"The day Clive passed, time stood still, our family felt the grief in what had happened, and are slowly healing over him. His memory will live on in what he did, this is manifested in his language here today and what he had left behind. He is not forgotten."
JCU Chancellor Bill Tweddell said he was delighted to accept the name, Murtupuni, and how appropriate it was for the town and its people.
"After consulting with the university traditional owners group, we have a rare privilege to be gifted a new campus name. A place that is powerfully linked to traditional owners and one we recognise," Mr Tweddell said.
"This renaming is a desire to reflect on the university sense of place and identity and to develop more meaningful and respectful relationships between JCU and indigenous Australians, not just for our 50th Anniversary but into the future."
The naming ceremony was finalised by unveiling the new name, a didgeridoo performed by Linkyn Macmillan and a smoking ceremony.
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