Canberrans are invited to have their say on proposals to name two parks, one in Kingston and the other in Campbell, and a proposal to recognise Catherine Helen Spence.

Mick Gentleman, ACT Minister for Planning and Land Management, said this initiative is part of the ACT Government’s effort to better represent the names of women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Canberra’s place names.

“Women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples represent our diverse and inclusive community,” Mr Gentleman said. “They should be recognised and celebrated in ACT place names.”

The ACT Place Names Advisory Committee recommended 3,500 square metres of grassed open space in Trevillian Quay, in the Kingston Foreshore Estate, be named after Alfred Stafford MBE.

“Mr Stafford, a driver for several federal ministers from the late 1930s until the early 1970s, and official driver for Prime Minister Robert Menzies during the 1950s, was a well-respected Kingston local of Gamilaroi and Darug heritage,” Mr Gentleman said.

“We’re keen to hear from the community with their thoughts on this proposed name through the YourSay website,” Mr Gentleman said.

“We are also looking for suggestions of names of female Australian Defence Force members who we could consider for the large park behind the Campbell shops, between White Crescent and Blamey Place.

“Under the place name guidelines, the name put forward must belong to a person who has been deceased for at least 12 months. It’s also important that the suggested name is not the same or too similar to an existing local place name.”

The government also seeks community input on co-naming the suburb of Spence after Catherine Helen Spence, a social and political reformer, author, and journalist.

“The suburb is currently named after William Guthrie Spence, trade unionist and politician,” Mr Gentleman said. “To increase the representation of women commemorated in our suburb names, we’d like to co-name the suburb to include Catherine Helen Spence, Australia’s first female political candidate and a lifelong campaigner for electoral reform.”

Co-naming the suburb will not change the suburb name or any address. A sign will be placed at the entry to the suburb explaining the two origins for the name.

The ACT Place Names Advisory Committee welcomes suggestions of names and feedback from the Canberra community. To provide suggestions, visit the YourSay Conversations website.

To search for a proposed name to see if it is unique, use the place names search at ACTmapi.