Welcome to Country debate reignited as elders hammer Storm over ceremony axing ‘shame’
A fierce debate has been sparked after an NRL club axed their Welcome to Country ceremony in a move tht left elders infuriated.
NRL
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Wurundjeri women’s dance group Djirri Djirri and Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin AO have issued a joint statement expressing their “hurt and anger” at the Melbourne Storm’s last-minute axing of a Welcome to Country for their NRL ANZAC Day fixture.
Murphy, who has performed the Welcome to Country at various Melbourne events for many years, was cut from the pre-game service at the last minute ahead of the Storm’s game against the Rabbitohs, in a move that left her “broken-hearted”.
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The cancellation came after several people booed the Welcome to Country ceremony at various Dawn Services around Melbourne hours before the NRL game was due to take place.
So on Friday afternoon, the Storm contacted Murphy and informed her that her services were no longer required.
Just hours later the Storm backflipped on the decision, asking Murphy to continue with her ceremony as originally planned, however, she declined.
While two First Nations groups also scheduled to perform also decided to boycott their performances in protest.
Despite Murphy opting not to continue as planned, Melbourne ran an Acknowledgement of Country message on the big screens before their Anzac commemoration.
Addressing the ordeal in a joint statement on Saturday evening, Djirri Djirri and Murphy said what should have been a proud occasion instead caused only grief.
“We Djirri Djirri were invited to dance alongside our Mäori Whanau Ngã Matai Púrua Kapa Haka after Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin’s Welcome to Country,” the statement released on Saturday night began.
“We arrived at 2:30pm and have been in and out of the change room to rehearse, it has been raining all day and we have multiple babies and kids with us waiting in the rain.
“After our final rehearsal we were approached by Melbourne Storm CEO Justin Rodski saying they are so grateful to have us all dancing together, but tonight the Board doesn’t feel comfortable having a Welcome to Country because of what happened in regards to the booing of Uncle Mark Brown at the ANZAC Dawn Service.
“They were also ‘happy’ for us to still dance to represent the “Welcome” but we were in shock and disbelief. Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin AO, a senior Wurundjeri Elder, was told she could not do a Welcome on her own Country, which devastated her as she wanted to honour her father who fought for Australia in World War 1.”
The joint statement then goes on to say the Storm’s backflip to include them again felt “tokenistic” and their move goes entirely against the reconciliation process.
“We had a yarn earlier amongst ourselves about staying strong and brave today as it is a lot, to be Blak on our own Country. We spoke with Justin Rodski and executives with all of us,” the statement continued.
“They came back after that discussion and apologised, but after reconsidering we all came to the decision to boycott.
“We strongly regard this as being totally tokenistic and goes completely against their journey of reconciliation and we feel very disrespected. We stand with and follow the directions of our staunch elders.
“What we do isn’t a performance, it’s cultural ceremony and protocol. We strongly feel this action taken by Melbourne Storm was unnecessary and has caused us hurt and disbelief in what we thought was a good relationship.
“We wanted to be commemorating today with pride, but instead it was pain. Aunty Joy stayed at AAMI Park for the whole of the ceremony for the ANZACs, wearing proudly her father’s medals and honouring all the service men and women who fought for our country.”
Is the end near for the Welcome to Country ceremonies before sports games?
The Welcome to Country is received – and understood – in very different ways by Australians and over the years it has become a highly polarising issue at major events.
The Storm say despite what transpired over the weekend they still intend to hold Welcome to Country ceremonies during the NRL’s multicultural and Indigenous rounds this season.
However, the reality is the Welcome to Country ceremony for many is becoming tiresome.
That was a sentiment that opposition leader Peter Dutton shared in Sunday night’s leaders debate, labelling the ceremonies “divisive” and “overdone”.
“In relation to the Welcome to Country, the first (point) I would make is that is our most sacred day of the year, Anzac Day, and a time to respect diggers and not a time for booing any part of the ceremony,” Dutton said.
“In relation to the Welcome to Country otherwise … (There) is a sense across the community that it is overdone.
“For the opening of parliament, fair enough, it is respectful to do. But for the start of every meeting at work, or the start of a football game, I think (a lot) of Australians think it is overdone and cheapens the significance of what it was meant to do.
“It divides the country, not dissimilar to what the prime minister did with the Voice (to parliament).”
Originally published as Welcome to Country debate reignited as elders hammer Storm over ceremony axing ‘shame’
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