A SUTHERLAND Shire resident has proposed naming a bushland walking track within Burnum Burnum Sanctuary at Woronora after 2014 Australian of the Year and recently retired Sydney Swans AFL player Adam Goodes.
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Goodes, who has twice won the Brownlow medal, announced he had played his last game for the Swans following the side's finals loss to the North Melbourne Kangaroos at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.
Sutherland Shire Council received the request in recognition of Goodes' role as Australian of the Year.
It has been proposed the path would be called the Adam Goodes Australian Wildflower Circuit.
Mr Goodes is well-known for his work with indigenous youth in inner Sydney and has set up a foundation and an indigenous football academy. He was recently the centre of a media storm when he missed several games after he was booed by football crowds. The AFL denounced the actions as being racially motivated.
But a council report recommended the suggestion be declined as Goodes does not have a significant connection with the shire.
"Mr Goodes is a well-recognised and respected individual in the broader community for a number of reasons, including being an advocate for his indigenous heritage," the council report said.
"Another advocate for indigenous heritage was Burnum Burnum, who had a strong connection to Sutherland Shire and after his death was recognised in 2003 by having Jannali Reserve renamed in his honour."
The report also recommends the proposal be declined because the Geographical Names Board of NSW, the body that approves the naming of places, strongly recommends not naming natural features after living people.
Instead the board suggests commemorative plaques or the naming of community buildings to honour a living person.
If the council decided to go ahead with the proposal, it would have to be referred to the council's Aboriginal Advisory Committee for comment.
It would then go out to the community for wider consultation.
Do you think the track name should be named after Goodes?