May 2 2003, Australia, www.smh.com.au

A Queensland regional sports ground has rejected a United Nations recommendation to remove the word "black person" from one of its grandstands.

After a week of fierce debate, the Toowoomba Sports Ground Trust decided to retain the venue's ES "black person" Brown sign.

Aboriginal activist Stephen Hagan, who petitioned the UN to rule on the matter, has fought for years to have the word removed from the sign which honours Edward Brown, Toowoomba's first rugby league international.

Mr Brown, who died in 1972 aged 74, was not an Aborigine and was believed to have earned the nickname because of his extremely fair complexion or because he had a penchant for using "black person Brown" shoe polish.

Several Australian courts ruled the name could stay, but last week the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination recommended it should go.

"The committee considers that ... use and maintenance of the offending term can at the present time be considered offensive and insulting," it said.

But trust chairman John McDOnald today said he had not been formally notified of the recommendations and the sign would remain untouched.

"At a meeting ... a unanimous resolution was passed by the trust that no action be taken regarding the ES 'black person' Brown sign," Mr McDonald said.

Mr Hagan said he was disappointed by the decision.

"The decision cements Toowoomba's position as the redneck capital of Australia," he said.

"I find it very strange that John McDonald, the chairman of the sports ground trust, was an architect of the racial vilification laws in rugby league whereby if a player calls another player black person on the football field he can get a fine of up to $10,000 and be suspended for six weeks.

"Now John McDonald is fighting tooth and nail to maintain the sign with the word black person on it."

Mr Hagan said he was prepared to take further legal action on the matter.

"I will have to consider my legal option of pursuing them in the courts individually," Mr Hagan said.

AAP

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/05/02/1051382077494.html