Wagga Women’s Health Centre president Vickie Burkinshaw is extremely frustrated over Wagga Wagga City Council’s decision to remove the ‘End Domestic Violence’ sign over the previously named Michael Slater Oval at Bolton Park. Photo: Shri Gayathirie Rajen.
Wagga Wagga City Council (WWCC) has refused to answer a series of questions about why it has not renamed Michael Slater Oval almost a year after voting to do so, and apparent inconsistencies in its graffiti removal policies.
Recently, WWCC was criticised for swiftly removing an ‘End Domestic Violence’ sticker placed over the Michael Slater Oval sign at Bolton Park, with critics arguing that the move symbolised an attempt to silence voices speaking out against violence, especially as other graffiti in the area remained untouched.
The controversy started after anonymous vandals placed the anti-violence message on the sign, which the council promptly covered up on Tuesday (4 March).
The debate surrounding the oval’s name has been ongoing since Wagga-born former Australian Test cricketer Slater was convicted of domestic violence offences in 2022.
In May 2024, the council voted to change the name, but this decision has yet to be actioned.
WWCC said that “all graffiti is removed from council property as soon as possible.”
Region questioned WWCC about the inconsistencies in its graffiti removal policy, specifically why the ‘End Domestic Violence’ message was removed almost immediately, while blue spray paint covering Michael Slater’s name remained for nearly a year. The Mark Taylor Oval sign also was defaced several weeks ago, but the council has not removed those markings.
We also asked what steps WWCC has taken to ensure a consistent approach to graffiti removal, and why the renaming of Michael Slater Oval, approved in May 2024, has yet to be implemented.
WWCC refused to respond to any of these questions.
Other council property covered in graffiti at Bolton Park. Photos: Shri Gayathirie Rajen.
Wagga Women’s Health Centre president and prominent feminist Vickie Burkinshaw has criticised council’s actions.
“For me, that sign was an act of someone saying, ‘This is the only way that I can claw back some of this power in an environment where gender inequality is still prevalent in our community,’ and by silencing voices, we’re not solving the problem.
“I believe conversations need to happen, and we need to have more of them. The act of covering up that statement silences the opportunity to have these discussions and openly talk as a community about what we’re doing to prevent violence against women.
“It’s an act of sheer frustration on multiple levels. First, the council agreed that the sign needed to be changed and the oval renamed — yet no action has been taken since last year.
“Second, there is still a crisis around domestic violence in our community that the council should be doing more to address.”
WWCC said the workshop for councillors to rediscuss a potential change to the oval’s name would be held, though a date had not been set.
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