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[Boydtown likely to be renamed because of 'racist' origin]

Boydtown likely to be renamed because of 'racist' origin

Belinda Palmada | News.com.au NZHerald.co.nz | 29 March 2021

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/boydtown-likely-to-be-renamed-because-of-racist-origin/VKOOUR7FKZJ5IVF7EWQNZGPEQA

A historic village in New South Wales will likely be renamed because of its "racist" links to slavery.

Boydtown on the state's south coast was named after Scottish-born entrepreneur Benjamin Boyd, who arrived in Australia in 1842.

Boyd is widely considered to have been Australia's first "Blackbirder" – a term describing the horrific practice of forcibly shipping Pacific Islanders to Australia to work on plantations in Queensland as slaves.

He also advocated for the keeping of slaves.

A plaque on the corner of his namesake road and Kurraba Rd describes him as a banker, merchant, pastoralist and whaler.

Property developer Lyon Group owns the majority of Boydtown, home to a caravan park, the historic Seahorse Inn pub, farming land and a planned residential site.

The company's managing director Mike Milliken told The Sydney Morning Herald he was "highly sympathetic to local Indigenous wishes" and would consider a name change.

Lyon Group has appointed a historian to assist with its review, Mr Milliken told the newspaper.

The news comes after NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean said he would investigate changing the name of Ben Boyd National Park, located near Eden on the south coast.

Last year, the Liberal MP told the ABC he was concerned about the issue.

"I have a huge amount of respect for our Indigenous people and their living history," Kean said.

"Our national parks are about connecting people, not dividing them."

In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement and a renewed focus on Indigenous rights, Boyd's legacy has been thrust into the spotlight.

Indigenous leaders have called for places bearing Boyd's name to be changed.

BJ Cruse, chair of the Eden Local Aboriginal Land Council, said it was "a slap in the face" to have a place named after someone who wanted to have slaves.

"You immediately think if something is named after somebody, that person warrants some sort of honour because of the way they have conducted themselves," Cruse told The Sydney Morning Herald.

"They could have named it after any race of person. I think government should set the mood by doing the right thing and change the names. Multicultural society should have a say in what the name should be."

Last year, one of the sporting houses at Neutral Bay Public School bore Boyd's name before it was changed to Waratah.

This is not the first time a location has floated changing its name.

In February, Lake Macquarie Council embarked on changing the name of Coon Island because of racist connotations.

The town was named after coal miner Herbert Heaney, the first recorded permanent resident on the island. Heaney received the nickname because his face was often covered with coal dust.

Iconic Aussie cheese brand Coon will be known as Cheer from July after a decision to rebrand.

[Mozambique hotel attack: Mother's anguish after son shot dead by Islamist insurgents]

Mozambique hotel attack: Mother's anguish after son shot dead by Islamist insurgents

Meryl Knox's son Adrian Nel was shot dead in a vehicle he was trying to escape in with his father and younger brother.

https://news.sky.com/story/mozambique-hotel-attack-mothers-anguish-after-son-shot-dead-by-islamist-insurgents-12259194

The mother of a man killed by suspected Islamist insurgents in Mozambique has told of the moment he was shot as he tried to flee a hotel.

Meryl Knox's 40-year-old son Adrian Nel was shot dead in a vehicle he was trying to escape in with his father and younger brother.

They were fleeing after dozens of people were trapped inside a hotel in the town of Palma, which has been under attack by militants since Wednesday.

Six others in the same convoy attempting to flee the hotel were also killed.

Two Britons, an Irish national and a New Zealand national were saved amid an ongoing search and rescue operation in and around Palma, according to a Sky source.

Rescue efforts had been under way before the ambush, with at least 20 people flown to safety in helicopters, according to a South African private security company.

Mrs Knox told Sky News her son Adrian, from South Africa, had been in Mozambique since 8 January where he was working as a contractor building an accommodation camp.

[Kiwi borders still open for culturally arranged marriages]

Nobody can cross a border ... Unless you want fish curry, long time?

Kiwi borders still open for culturally arranged marriages

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/124612243/kiwi-borders-still-open-for-culturally-arranged-marriages
Excerpt: New arranged marriage brides and grooms are exempt from border closures, with more than 50 visas being issued since the pandemic hit.

Culturally arranged marriage visas have been granted to 94 couples in the past two years, but Indian organisation leaders say many more unions being delayed by paperwork errors.

Indian leaders believe Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has been genuine in working with different cultures to understand their needs and ensure the tradition can continue after controversy arose in 2019.

And life doesn't stop just because of Covid-19, New Zealand Indian Central Association president Paul Patel says.

[King's School chaplain accused of abusing boy in Australia then warning God would punish him if he spoke up]

King's School chaplain accused of abusing boy in Australia then warning God would punish him if he spoke up

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/kings-school-chaplain-accused-of-abusing-boy-in-australia-then-warning-god-would-punish-him-if-he-spoke-up/56N5SDTQ4ZOTR6EGL5GRJWDMF4

Excerpt: The chaplain of a prestigious Auckland school is accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a pupil in an Australian chapel then telling the boy God would punish him if he told anyone about the abuse.

NZ King's School chaplain Father John Goodwin had taken leave after historical sexual allegations surfaced linked to his time at an exclusive Anglican boys' school in Tasmania.

The plaintiff claims he was groomed then sexually abused by Goodwin, in his capacity as school chaplain and priest, over a two-week period at lunchtimes in the school chapel.

The documents claim Goodwin's position gave him "the ability to achieve intimacy with the plaintiff" after allegedly grooming the boy for several months.

It's alleged Goodwin complimented the boy on his looks and hair, telling him that with Goodwin's help the boy would get better religious grades, make his parents proud and help him become a lawyer.

The documents claim Goodwin then repeatedly sexually abused the boy during chapel visits.

On one occasion, Goodwin is alleged to have massaged the boy's shoulders and told him his bottom looked good in shorts before assaulting him.

Yes we can't vote our way out of this or wish our way out of this, or stick our heads in the sand about this. As @Rev.Cambeul said join the Church of Creativity. Rahowa!