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Bindjareb Traditional Owners have begun a campaign to rename the Peel region in Western Australia, named after Thomas Peel, a settler who was instrumental in the Pinjarra massacre in which dozens of Aboriginal people, including children, were killed on October 28, 1834.

Traditional Owner : “It’s time to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land and for people to see who Peel really was … I find it insulting to see it everywhere I look, a man who continually called for the annihilation of Bindjareb Noongars even after the massacre.

“It’s time for change so everyone, including all the Noongar fellas, will be proud to say their name and to tell people where they’re from with pride.”

Local MP Robyn Clarke is backing the move, saying she would like to have the region named Bindjareb. “The original region was called the Bindjareb region where the Bindjareb people lived and I believe that that name should be restored. It would heal a lot of hurt … and it would give the Bindjareb people their identity to know that this is their land.” She added that it was up to the Indigenous community to decide on a name.

Kearing agreed, saying, “It would be up to the wider community [to decide]. Let’s have a poll or whatever, but as long as the person is someone who has done no wrong.”

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