Herbert Heaney News Today

The survey found 56 per cent of the 2112 respondents did not want the name changed. Coon Island and Coon Island Point are located in a low-lying area at the head of the Swansea Channel, opposite Pelican. The area is Awabakal land, with archaeological evidence dating back at least 7800 years ago showing occupation and widespread hunting areas. Lake Macquarie City Council councillor Kevin Baker said Coon Island was named after its original inhabitant Herbert Heaney, who was a man of Anglo-Sax...

A racist place name in a small New South Wales coastal community is set to be changed after a council vote on Monday night. C**n Island, a nature reserve in the Lake Macquarie suburb of Swansea, will be given the name ‘Pirrita’ Island - an Awabakal word for oysters from the mangrove tree. The island was originally named after Herbert Heaney, the first permanent resident. Heaney was a miner who would come home covered with coal dust and was referred to as ‘c**n’ because of his blackface....

Concerns have been raised about the name being offensive, so Council wants to investigate community sentiment. The island was originally named after local coal miner, Herbert Greta Heaney whose nickname was “Coon” because he was often seen with coal dust on his face. Following talks with local stakeholders including the Bahtahbah Local Aboriginal Land Council and members of the Heaney family, Council has come up with a range of new name options. These include: * Heaney Island — as a tribu...

NSW Council voted to start the process of renaming racist Coon Island Pioneer Herbert Heaney was the first recorded permanent resident on the island A white coal miner, he had black dust on his face and got the nickname Coon   Coon is a derogatory and racist term once used to insult black people  Indigenous owners say they welcome a joint name recognising both cultures