What’s in a name?

Joan Foley‘s letter to the NWT 27 Mar 13 reminds me of my dad, Colin Peter Matheson’s last 6 months on this earth.  He too was a vocal opponent of the Shire’s reference to Port Hedland as “Hedland”. 

 

In 1995 the Town of Port Hedland was planning the 100 year celebration of Port Hedland ready for 1996.  Dad could see that all of the branding was to be “100 years of Hedland”.  He was furious. 

 

So furious, he went to visit a lawyer in Karratha to hatch a plan to stop it.  The plan was to change his business name from North West Distributors to 100 years of Hedland.  He then requested the lawyer to write to the Shire and demand they desist from using his registered business name in any of their branding or marketing.  There was much resistance from the Shire.  In the end my dad prevailed. 

 

Unfortunately dad never saw the celebrations.  He died in his sleep on 10 January 1996 – the year of 100 years of Port Hedland.