An Aboriginal elder and former West Australian of the Year is calling for Bussell Highway in the state's south-west to be renamed in a bid for further recognition for his heroic great-grandfather.
Warning: This article contains images of deceased Indigenous people.
In 1876, Aboriginal stockman Samuel Isaacs, together with 16-year-old Grace Bussell, rode their horses into rough surf to rescue more than 50 survivors from the wreck of the SS Georgette.
On the 100th anniversary of Samuel's death, his great-grandson Robert Isaacs said he deserved more recognition for the courageous act.
A member of the Stolen Generations, Robert Isaacs was an adult when he learnt he was a great-grandson of Samuel.
The 19th-century story of a pair that saved survivors of a shipwreck made international headlines.
Bussell and Isaacs received a silver and bronze medal from the Royal Humane Society, and Isaacs was rewarded with land by the Government.
Mr Isaacs said he did not want to take away from Bussell's achievements, but felt their stockman, his great-grandfather, had been overshadowed.
He noted the towns of Gracetown and Lake Grace were named after Bussell, while the region's main highway also carried the Bussell name.
"It could be a combination of the Bussell-Isaacs Highway — I will call for that — they should rename it," Mr Isaacs said.
Concerns about 'cancel culture'
Members of the Bussell family stressed the family had the highest regard for Isaacs's achievements.
But descendent Emma-Clare Bussell said any suggestion that he had gone unrecognised was not true.
She said there was an Isaacs Road in Margaret River and memorial plaques to him in Augusta, at Redgate Beach, in Busselton at his gravesite and at Wallcliffe House on the Margaret River.
Ms Bussell said she was also concerned about creating division.
"The fact that a woman and an Aboriginal person were undertaking a rescue [together] should be seen as the underdog working together," she said.
She said women's history also needed to be championed as women were often invisible in historical records.
Farmer Vernon Bussell stressed the Bussell Highway was not named after Grace Bussell but the broader Bussell family, as the region's early settlers.
He said there could perhaps be other ways of giving Isaacs greater recognition.
"I wouldn't support the renaming of Bussell Highway — I think it's been named for too long," Mr Bussell said.
Conversations about names needed
Mr Isaacs said now was the time to have a broader conversation about the recognition of Aboriginal families' contributions in regional towns.
"We didn't just live in reserves, you know, Aboriginal people helped build these towns, in work and farming, in the timber industry and in mills," he said.
The Shire President of the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River, Ian Earl, said he felt the shire was happy to discuss issues about Aboriginal naming and reconciliation.
"There's a lot that needs to be done and we really don't want to rush into it and upset one group," he said.
"But we are working really hard to have these discussions."
