Key Points
- Berwick petitioners ask Sikh community members to name a 'new' place with Guru's name, fearing the proposed name could erode their local history.
- The Sikh community members say they feel used for political purposes and made to feel like outsiders.
- Government records indicate that the name Berwick Springs was never officially gazetted.
The Victorian Parliament discussed a petition against naming of a lake in Berwick as ‘Guru Nanak Lake’.
The petition started by Berwick residents argues that the new name is being implemented without adequate consultation and overlooks the area's longstanding history.
Michael Ball, president of the Berwick Springs Community and head petitioner, the lake has been known locally as Berwick Springs Lake since European settlement in 1855.
He added that the community standing behind the petition is "multicultural" and "united", and the petition is not intended as opposition to the Sikh community, but against the lack of consultation.
The petition, signed by 9,600 people at Change.org, was started in 2024 after the Allan government announced during a ceremony that the lake would be named after the founder of the Sikh faith, Guru Nanak.
We did not expect the government to reinstate the old name, but we wanted to hold the government accountable and make them answer. Our petition achieved that.Michael Ball, the president of Berwick Springs Community and head petitioner against the new name.
While the locals have been calling the lake 'Berwick Springs Lake', the government claims that it is not a gazetted name. This claim, however, is disputed by locals.
The name Guru Nanak Lake was to be instated in 2024. Credit: SBS Punjabi
The petitioners claim that before the announcement, the locals had never even heard of this initiative under which their local lake was to be renamed.
Mr Ball said, “We appreciate the contributions of the Sikh community in Victoria. This issue is not about multiculturalism but about transparency and respect for local voices.”
The community also suggested that the name Guru Nanak should be given to a new place which does not already have a name, and renaming should start with “respectful consultation with locals”.
Minister Ingrid Stitt and Minister Soniya Kilkany at the ceremony to name Berwick Lake as Guru Nanak Lake in 2024 Credit: SBS Punjabi
“Every time something is proposed to recognize migrant communities, there is opposition of some sort," said Harpreet Kandra, a local Sikh resident who had started a counter-petition seeking the reinstatement of the name Guru Nanak Lake.
These oppositions challenge our sense of belonging. We are contributing like anyone who has migrated before us. But we are being used as political football.Hapreet Singh Kandra, Sikh community leader
Kandra told SBS Punjabi that," the community had suggested a middle ground of keeping the name of the lake as Berwick Springs Lake, while naming the walking trails around it as Guru Nanak Trail. But that too was rejected by the locals."
“The opposition is just a debate about nothing. We want to spread awareness about our Guru and give a sense of belonging to our future generations,” said Mr Kandra.
“Guru Nanak stood for everyone, and seeing these protests is disrespectful.”
David Limbrick, a Member of the Legislative Council from Libertarian Party Australia, supported the petition against the name, saying the government had “overwritten a history that dates back to 1855.”
"Naming a local location with the name of a religious leader who does not have a local connection historically is so divisive."
He said in Parliament that "the government talks a big game on social cohesion, but I did not notice any problems of social cohesion in Berwick before the government did this."
Victoria’s Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Ingrid Stitt, questioned the timing of the motion, saying that "the Liberal Party's decision to move a motion against the naming of Guru Nanak Lake has caused deep hurt and offence to our Sikh and our broader Indian communities."
"The timing of this motion, falling so close to both Diwali and Guru Nanak's birth anniversary, sends an unfortunate and insensitive message to those communities, especially when they should be celebrating."
She also said, "The naming of Guru Nanak Lake reflects the values that unite us, not those that divide us."
Uncle Mark Brown, an elder from the Bunurong people, performed a Welcome ceremony at the ceremony held by state govt to name a lake in Berwick after Guru Nanak. Credit: SBS Punjabi
Uncle Mark Brown, an elder from the Bunurong people, was present at the naming ceremony held by the state government in 2024. He also performed a Welcome ceremony.
SBS Punjabi also reached out to the traditional owners of the land in South-East Victoria (Bunurong people) for a comment. This story will be updated as soon as we receive a response.
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