A regional Victorian newspaper editor says she has been saddened and intimidated by hurtful comments after she suggested the town of St Arnaud change its name.
St Arnaud is 105 kilometres west of Bendigo and is named after Jacques Leroy de Saint-Arnaud, who was a French general in the Crimean War.
In late June, Sue Hynes the editor of the North Central News, asked readers to consider whether the name was still appropriate.
"There is no link between this man and our town, other than some of the early residents came from France.
"He did not ever visit this area, did not explore this area, did not give of himself in any way for this area or town."
But since writing the editorial, she says some community members have lashed out with hurtful and disrespectful comments.
A time to reflect
Ms Hynes wrote the editorial as the world experiences a wave of protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, following the death of George Floyd.
In Australia, statues reflecting the country's colonial past have been vandalised in Townsville and also in Adelaide.
"I think it's an opportune time to think what the town has to say (about the name)," Ms Hynes said.
While there has been some support for a reconsideration of the town's name, Ms Hynes told ABC Statewide Drive in Victoria that she had been the victim of hurtful comments from people opposing the idea.
"Social media has been absolutely foul, and I've received unsolicited calls, messages and letters," she said.
"It insults my ability as an editor and my intelligence. I have been intimidated.
"It's very sad and I can only hope it's just a noisy minority."
Indigenous organisation backs name change discussion
The Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation says the discussion around the town's name is an important one.
"I think the name should be changed based on how a community defines itself and its own identity," chief executive Rodney Carter said.
"The community of St Arnaud know who they are. The challenge now is how they disassociate with the person that has been applied to the naming of their township.
"I would think they wouldn't be too impressed what he did historically."
The general is known to have suffocated up to 500 Arab tribesman in a cave in Algeria and torched villages and crops.
But the local mayor has described the potential changing of the town's name as "rather ridiculous".
"I don't see a great swell of people looking to change the name, in fact I would have thought the overall opinion is most of the people are quite annoyed that it has been brought up," Northern Grampians Shire mayor Murray Emerson said.
Cr Emerson did say if there was a majority of people that wanted the town's name changed, the council would take a look at how that process would work.
"It wouldn't matter where you look I don't think, in any town or city or area you'd fine some names that have been given to roads, townships, areas, that are in a similar situation," he said.
"I think it's a bit of an overreaction but if there's enough support for it, we would take a look."
