Kiama Councillor Kathy Rice Thunda-Struck by Track’s Name

Kiama councillor Kathy Rice believes the council is being ”deceptive” and ”arrogant” in the way it has reaffirmed the name Thunda Track for a walking track at Bombo.

In May, veteran Kiama councillor Warren Steel convinced his fellow councillors to name the walking trail through the old Bombo quarry Thunda Track, as Bombo was an Aboriginal word for Thunder.

However in June, concerns were raised by Kiama man Paul Beaupark, an indigenous Australian, that the spelling of the name ”Thunda” was insulting.

”It insinuates that is how an Aboriginal person speaks and how an uneducated Aboriginal person would spell thunder,” Mr Beaupark said.

He said a name such as Thunda could ”incite racism” and the name should have been referred to the Geographical Names Board, which had a committee that investigated indigenous names.

Mr Beaupark said there were even doubts over whether Bombo actually meant thunder and suggested the name should be either Thunder spelt correctly, or Muru Bombo, with Muru being the Dharawal word for track or pathway.

Following Mr Beaupark’s concerns, the council referred the name to its Aboriginal liaison officer Elaine Hudson for advice, who in turn consulted Aboriginal elders and groups.

A report presented to Kiama council on Tuesday night said ”strong views were expressed about the spelling of the word with a preference it not be spelt Thunda … with five people (including a specialist anthropologist on the Dharawal speaking people) questioning whether Bombo is associated with any Dharawal language/words”.

Deputy Mayor Neil Reilly moved that the track’s name remain Thunda and the council determine the naming of the track not be associated with Aboriginal culture.

Cr Gavin McClure said Thunda was ”a catchy catchphrase” and could be taken as the sound of the blasting from the quarry.

However Cr Rice believed that a new name for the walking trail should be sought and she had support from Cr Andrew Sloan.

”I think it is rather deceptive and a little bit arrogant to now say we don’t think the name has any relationship to Aboriginal culture when that was strongly argued to begin with,” Cr Rice said.

Councillors voted 7-2 in support of Cr Reilly’s motion.