Mayor Gary Rush confirmed on Wednesday night that council was well advanced in its plans to recognise Wahluu as the original name for Bathurst’s best-known icon.

The revelation came as councillors walked a fine line between affirming their opposition to racism and opposing a politically sensitive notice of motion from Councillor Jess Jennings.

And their task was made all the more difficult as a number of local indigenous leaders used public question time to make impassioned pleas for real inclusiveness in our society

In the end, Cr Monica Morse offered a compromise motion that left no-one completely happy, but no-one completely dissatisfied either. But council’s rejection of Cr Jennings’ notice of motion should not count against the good work it is doing to bridge the divide between black and white.

Council routinely acknowledges the traditional Wiradjuri owners of this land and helps co-ordinate Sorry Day and NAIDOC Week activities to bring all communities together.

Council has also acknowledged the sensitivities surrounding the bicentenary for local indigenous people and is taking steps to ensure the story of the Wiradjuri is told alongside the story of the first white settlers as part of those celebrations. 

It has taken around two decades for the name Uluru to take real precedence over Ayers Rock in outback Australia. And maybe in another  two decades Mount Panorama will finally give way to the traditional name of Wahluu. What a wonderfully poignant gift that would be to all the people of Bathurst – regardless of their colour.