Duncan Street Reserve Commemorative Renaming
Consultation has concluded
Background
The Town of Victoria Park is calling for community feedback on the proposed renaming of Duncan Street Reserve to honour former Town resident Sister Martin Kelly MBE.
Local parks and reserves are significant community assets and places for social connection and recreation that are used by a range of community members and groups. Therefore, broad community input is considered essential prior to the renaming of community assets.
Sister Martin Kelly, (known as Peggy to her family) grew up in the Town and attended St Joachim’s School (now part of Ursula Frayne Catholic College) from 1939 to 1947 before taking religious orders with the Sisters of Mercy, and teaching in two schools in the Town of Victoria Park.
Sister Martin Kelly was widely acclaimed for her dedication, strength, compassion, and advocacy on the part of orphans and children who were wards of the State. She worked tirelessly to improve the living conditions and care of children and families and was known across Western Australia for her work.
Sister Martin Kelly introduced help for children with special needs including occupational and speech therapy and psychological care. Sister Kelly also recognised the need to provide a specific type of care for homeless and at-risk teenagers, which included transition towards independent living. This care and dedication had far reaching effects on children across Western Australia.
Sister Martin Kelly (1930-1987) received an MBE in 1979 for her services to Wembley’s Catherine McAuley Centre. Under her guidance, the Centre adopted a family care model, which recognised that family breakdown could be detrimental to the psychological wellbeing of children and teenagers–a concept not previously taken into consideration. Sister Martin Kelly reformed the living conditions of children who were wards of the State, and others who were privately placed in care due to family breakdown or crisis. She ensured that siblings were able to remain together.
In 2016 she was posthumously inducted into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame Roll of Honour.
Proposal
The commemorative renaming request was brought to the Town by Historic Victoria Park Inc (HVP) and assessed under Town Policy 111.
HVP is a volunteer community group, working to tell the stories of Victoria Park and celebrate the Town’s unique heritage. HVP identified Sister Martin Kelly as a historical figure worthy of public recognition by the Town of Victoria Park. The proposed renaming aligns with the Town’s ambition to increase awareness of the contribution prominent women have made to the community.
Duncan Street Reserve was identified by HVP as the site to be considered for commemoration due to its proximity to the childhood home of Sister Martin Kelly at 33 Sunbury Road, Victoria Park.
The Town of Victoria Park is seeking feedback on five possible options for the proposed Duncan Street Reserve renaming:
- Martin Kelly Park
- Peggy Kelly Park
- Kelly Park
- Sister Kelly Park
- No change to park name
Please note that this renaming proposal is only for the park, the bordering street name of Duncan Street will remain the same.
Next Steps and Public Feedback
The consultation process for the proposed renaming will run from 23 October 2023 to 13 November 2023. The Town of Victoria Park encourages residents and stakeholders to take part in the survey below and have their say.
Alternatively, comments on the proposal can be submitted by email to admin@vicpark.wa.gov.au or call 9311 8111.
The Town of Victoria Park will use the results from this community consultation to guide the next steps of the renaming process.
