by Shane Sody

Racist vandals have attacked signage in your Adelaide Park Lands to remove the Kaurna names of Parks.

Since 1997, the City of Adelaide has worked with the Kaurna community in a spirit of reconciliation, to adopt and publish Kaurna names for most of the Parks within your Adelaide Park Lands, including all six Squares.

Kaurna names are also used (alongside English names) for geographical features such the River Torrens / Karrawirra Pari.

One of our readers, Graham* has drawn our attention to recent vandalism which has (temporarily) obliterated Kaurna names on the Parks that contain University of Adelaide playing fields, and elsewhere.

Graham* wrote to us, and to the University’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Høj:

I am a resident of North Adelaide and enjoy walking through Park 12 University Oval, Park 10 Graduates Oval and the Park 10 Running Loop on my way home everyday. 

Since the launch of the ’no' campaign in the recent national referendum, I noticed that the place-names on each of the signs has been ‘blacked out’ with spray paint. I was, naturally, appalled at this act and reported it to the Adelaide City Council.

Their graffiti team immediately removed the paint where they could. Since the successful no vote and the defeat of the referendum, the vandal has returned - this time with an impetus to remove any and all place names throughout the parklands. 

I have counted 13 instances of place names being blacked out with spray paint in my short walk alone.

I want to be clear that this is an intentional act of racism - something that I am sure does not align with the values of both of your organisations.

It surely does nothing in the spirit of reconciliation and if anything, nullifies the chance of a young person, family or sporting enthusiast to see, learn and reflect on the culture and language of the First Peoples of South Australia. 

No doubt, these place names and signage formed part of a hefty consultation process with local Traditional Owners who would see the use of this language as a gift to all South Australians. I hope you can, with the City Council, become aware of this issue and work together to ratify it. 

I have attached photos taken Monday the 23rd October. I have again reported this to the Adelaide City Council graffiti team.

I commend their previous efforts but think the scale and determination of the vandalism requires, in this instance, a tri-partisan solution between the University, Council and the Park Lands. 

Please let me know if I can do anything to assist from the point of view of a resident. 

After Kaurna Park names were adopted in 2002, it took another 15 years, until 2017, for the City Council to adopt a dual language policy for each of your Parks.

Since 2017, the naming convention for each Park within your Park Lands (with a couple of exceptions) is: English name/Kaurna name (Park number).

You can see the full list here, with a link to each Park: https://www.adelaide-parklands.asn.au/explore

You can read more about the Kaurna place naming project here: https://kaurnaculture.wordpress.com/the-kaurna-naming-project/

* Graham asked us not to publish his real name.