At a recent place naming forum, someone asked a powerful question:

“What can you do if you’re not a naming authority like local government, but you want to get involved and help advance place naming and public art equality?”

It was a great reminder that commemorative justice is not just the job of councils or statutory bodies. Every one of us—individuals, community groups, educators, and local leaders—has a role to play in making sure the women and gender diverse people who shaped our communities are recognised in the places we walk, gather, and live.

So, here’s how YOU can Put Her Name on It:

ADVOCATE

Use your voice to push for change.

Email your local council or ask a Question on Notice at a council meeting (details are on your council’s website). Ask what steps they are taking to ensure gender equality in place naming and public art or tell them what steps you want them to take.  This small act can put equity on the agenda—and into policy. This is how Put Her Name on It started.

NOMINATE

Help ensure women and gender diverse people are part of our public story.

In Victoria?

Take part in the Remember a Local, Name a Place initiative. Geographic Names Victoria is calling for nominations of people—especially women and First Nations people—who have made significant contributions. These names can go into local name banks to be used when places are named.

Submit here: https://engage.vic.gov.au/name-a-place

Outside Victoria?

Check your council’s website for nomination processes—or start one! If there’s no formal avenue, write to them with the details of someone deserving.

PARTICIPATE

Put your hand up.  Many local councils have place naming and public art committees—and they often include community members. These groups usually meet just a few times a year but can shape powerful outcomes. Keep an eye out for calls for applications and put your hand up.

Or, start something local that records women’s stories:

Host a Reclaim Her Name Event at your local library or park. Bring people together to share stories of remarkable women from your community. Capture their contributions, gather historical photos and records, and build a shared list of potential honourees you can nominate, share, add to Wikipedia.  You may even write a book!

Go on a place name hunt. Look around your community and find places named after women then head over to VICNAMES -Victoria’s official register of geographic place names and add the gender and story in which will allow us to measure progress towards gender equality in geographic place names at a statewide level.

Go walking. Book a women’s history walking tour like – https://sheshapeshistory.com.au/ or go on your own using https://findingher.org.au/

Sign the dotted line.  Add your name to a petition or make a submission to a new place name like hundreds did for the naming of Pakenham East to Honora Fields (well almost)

And if your job allows, look at how women’s histories can be embedded.  Like:

• Hosting an event. It could be International Women’s Day or Day of People with Disability, 16 Days of Activism,  IDAHOBIT Day, put women’s history and commemorative justice on the agenda, help raise awareness of the issue, progress and solutions.

• Discussing the women trailblazers in your workplace or sector and make sure they are visibly represented

STAY UP TO DATE

Keep the momentum going by following and supporting those working in this space.

Sign up for updates from:

• Gender Equity Victoria

• Put Her Name on It

• Finding Her Hub

Engage with social posts, tag local champions, and share women’s stories and commemorations that inspires you. Visibility drives action.

DONATE

Support a commemorative project in your area.

Your donation—big or small—could help fund a plaque, a statue, a mural, or a storytelling installation that recognises women or gender diverse people who’ve shaped your community. Here’s an example – https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/news/vida-goldstein-statue

Let’s Make Herstory

You don’t need to be a naming officer or planner to help rewrite history and put more women on the map.

All it takes is a spark—an email, a nomination, a gathering, a question

Put Her Name on It.

Because representation in our streets and public spaces matters.

Because visibility is power.

Because our communities were built by women too.

Join the movement.

#puthernameonit #commemorativejustice #westandwithwomen #visiblewomen #putwomenonthemap #commemoratewomen #nominateher