Renaming Proposal - Korumburra Recreation Reserve Oval
South Gippsland Shire Council has received a request to rename the oval at Korumburra Recreation Reserve to ‘Summerfield Oval’ in honour of Allen Victor Summerfield to acknowledge his extraordinary community service.
Council at its Meeting held on the 20 August 2025 resolved to undertake community consultation from 21 August to 21 September 2025, seeking community feedback and input in the suggested renaming of the Korumburra Recreation Reserve Oval.
The proposed name change to ‘Summerfield Oval’ has been reviewed by the Geographic Names Victoria (GNV) and complies with the Naming Rules for Places in Victoria 2022 - Statutory requirements for naming roads, features and localities (the Naming Rules) guidelines.
Naming Rule Considerations
The Naming Rules require Council to consider 13 principles. For this naming proposal, the following principles are particularly relevant:
Principle I - Using commemorative names
Naming often commemorates an event, person or place. When considering a commemorative name, the following must be considered:
- the person should be or have been held in strong regard by the community;
- the person’s achievements;
- the relevant history and association to the area; and
- the significance of the family/person to the area/land. For example, a family that has been associated with an area for at least 25 years.
As part of this Principle I, Council is also required to seek an exemption from Geographic Names Victoria to change the place name prior to the two years elapsing following the passing of Mr Summerfield on 5 December 2023. As per the Naming Rules:
“Commemorative names of a deceased person should be applied no less than two years posthumously. If a naming authority wishes to name within two years, it is required to seek an exemption from Geographic Names Victoria.”
The rationale for this exemption is due to the following reasons:
- A significant contribution by the individual through the positions held to the local clubs based at the Reserve.
- The support of the family.
- The letters of support received by various associated Clubs, including a letter of support from Danny O’Brien MP, Member for Gippsland South
- To enable the requestor to prepare for the timing of installation around the sporting seasons.
The Registrar of Geographic Names advised that the current name of Korumburra Recreation Reserve is longstanding and has recommended that the name of the Korumburra Recreation Reserve be registered in the VICNAMES register and that Mr Summerfield be commemorated through another naming such as a building or the oval. Highlighting that the oval is a significant feature in the Reserve it is proposed that the oval be renamed ‘‘Summerfield Oval’ and in that way both names would be registered. GNV also advised that if an unnamed place be chosen to be named, the Registrar will provide an exemption to Principle I (two years wait after death).
Following this advice from GNV, the Korumburra Recreation Reserve Committee further consulted with various community sporting clubs. In support of Allen Summerfield contribution and commitment to the wider community, various community sporting clubs have provided letters of support for this proposed name change which are outlined in the Attachments (link):
- The Korumburra Recreation Reserve Committee
- The Korumburra Football and Netball Club
- The Korumburra Cricket Club
- Korumburra City Soccer Club
- South Gippsland Umpires Association
Consultation is open until 21 September 2025.
We are now looking to our community to let us know if this name is suitable. Whether you support the proposal or not, please complete the survey below.
Following the community consultation period, it is proposed that a report will be presented to Council at the 15 October 2025 Council Meeting, to outline the outcome of the community consultation and any relevant next steps in the Place Naming process.
