Dear Reader,

This petition seeks to address recent concerns and foster understanding about the decision to officially name a lake in Berwick Springs for the first time (this is not a renaming, as the lake never previously had an official name). On November 9, the State government officially named a lake in Berwick Springs as ‘Guru Nanak Lake’ to honour Guru Nanak, founder of the Sikh faith, and to recognise the contributions of the Sikh community to Victoria.

https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/celebrating-victorias-sikh-communities

This decision was made following consultations by the State government with key organizations, including the Bunurong Land Council, City of Casey, Geographic Names Victoria, the Victorian Multicultural Commission, Melbourne Water, and Emergency Management Victoria.

However, some local community members are now expressing unrest, possibly due to misunderstandings, and the issue appears to be politicized. So, we must ask: Is this dispute truly about the lake’s name, or is it about the process? If the concern is with the process, the community could accept the name and provide constructive feedback to the government and stakeholders for future policy making, rather than calling for a name change.

But if the concern stems from unfamiliarity, fear or misunderstanding, we should remember that we live in a multicultural Australia. We are enriched by multicultural communities like the Sikh community, who consistently contributes to Victoria in numerous ways. The Sikh community has demonstrated compassion and service, especially in times of crisis, be it the pandemic, bushfires or storm events, aligning with Guru Nanak’s teachings of love and sharing by caring. Those unfamiliar with Guru Nanak are encouraged to engage with Sikh organisations to learn more about his principles, which emphasise compassion, inclusivity, and peace. His teachings have fostered harmony across different religions—a principle that, if widely embraced, could reduce conflicts worldwide.

In summary, if you support the naming of the lake as ‘Guru Nanak Lake,’ please sign YES to this petition.

✔ Signing YES affirms a commitment to multiculturalism in Australia

✔ Signing YES means endorsing values of compassion, understanding, and mutual respect.

✔ Signing YES means we base decisions on knowledge rather than fear or misunderstanding.

✔ Signing YES is also practical; naming the lake won’t change its role as a community space but could help elevate it as a place of cultural significance.

✔ Signing YES also means we believe in solving issues efficiently rather than wasting resources on creating unnecessary problems.

This is the 1st step to recognising multiculturalism in our suburbs. So let's say YES to this initiative.