By Matthew Sims
Cardinia Council has officially named ‘Honora’ as the new name for Pakenham East, after a divisive discussion throughout the area about the preferred name for the new suburb.
During the council meeting on Monday 15 July, the council passed a motion to name the new suburb Honora and liaise with the family and Geographic Names Victoria if a suffix is required.
As part of an alternative motion, council will also recommend changing the name of Mount Ararat South Road to Hannah Road, while Mount Ararat North Road would be renamed to Mount Ararat Road.
Over a five week period, the council received a total of 1840 valid surveys, with the majority of each category of voter voting for a different preferred name, with those living or owning land within the suburb area preferring Alice Park, residents living in Pakenham, Nar Nar Goon or elsewhere in Cardinia preferring Honora and those who live outside of Cardinia but have friends or within Cardinia preferring Debra.
However, the council officers decided to use Honora due to Honora receiving the most first preferred votes at 636, compared with Alice Park and Debra both at 399.
Honora was the second most preferred name of those responding who own property within the suburb, and Honora has the stronger link than Alice Park with the family name appearing on parish plans and the family still owning land and living within the suburb area.
Honora Ryan was born in County Tipperary, Ireland in December 1836.
On the ship to Australia, Honora Ryan met a young Irish man named Michael Carney.
Living in the late 19th century and through to the turn of the 20th, Honora laid down the roots with her children which would see the Carney family own and farm a significant part of the land which Pakenham East is designated to be today.
Honora Carney and her husband Michael leased a large parcel of land between Pakenham and Nar Nar Goon on the south side of Princes Highway from 1869.
They had seven children and ran a farming business together before Michael passed away in 1880.
Honora purchased the land south of the highway in 1887 and the land north of the highway in 1902.
She continued to run the family farming business with her children until her death in 1912.
Honora’s great-grandson Mark Carney said the family were pleased with the endorsement for the new name.
“We’re very grateful for the support from the council and councillors,“ he said.
Mr Carney said he hoped the new name would stand as a legacy for the family and Honora’s impact.
“We’ve been in the area longer than anybody else,“ he said.
“As a single mum of seven kids, she did a lot for the community and women going forward.
“She wasn’t afraid to take on anything.“
Speaking in support of the motion, Central Ward councillor said he enjoyed learning the stories of all of the women behind the names put forward.
“I think it’s great to find out who the locals are,“ he said.
“They are prominent people that need to be discovered.
“I look forward to seeing a suburb named after a prominent local.“
