By Peter Ryan
An organisation combatting Aboriginal family violence that partnered with Collingwood to run a residential program since 2017 has terminated its relationship with the Magpies following fresh claims of alleged racism included in a Federal Court claim lodged this week.
Dardi Munwurro released a statement on Thursday saying it “had no choice but to terminate our partnership with [Collingwood] immediately” after media reports outlining a Federal Court claim from Collingwood’s former head of First Nations strategy Mark Cleaver that includes serious allegations levelled against Magpies CEO Craig Kelly.
Collingwood Football Club chief executive Craig Kelly.Credit: AAP
The Melbourne-based organisation, founded in 2000, said it tried to be as supportive as it could to Collingwood as the club navigated their way through racism and cultural issues that were brought to light by the Do Better report, which was released in February 2020 after being leaked to the media.
The latest claim alleges Kelly made disparaging remarks about Indigenous Elder Aunty Carol Thorpe – who founded Dardi Munwurro with her husband Alan – following a meeting between the Magpies and Dardi Munwurro.
In that meeting, Cleaver alleges Thorpe corrected Kelly when he said, “I really care about our Indigenous people,” telling him “You don’t say ‘our’, we don’t belong to you.”
Cleaver claims Kelly thanked Thorpe in the meeting for “pulling me up on that”, but later – when she was not present – denigrated her, allegedly referring to her as “that dumb old bitch”.
Alan Thorpe is a former AFL player with Footscray and South Melbourne, and is on Hawthorn’s First Nations advisory committee.
Dardi Munwurro, which runs a range of programs to help men make positive changes to their lives, was careful to not prejudice the court action under way.
“We want to make clear that we are not passing judgment on any individual at the club or the club itself, we understand the media reports are based on unproven allegations that relate to an ongoing court case, and we respect this process,” the statement read.
“By making this statement, we are in no way suggesting that the allegations are true, only that they have been made in documents before the court.
“However the media coverage of this case has unfortunately included the naming of Dardi Munwurro and a highly respected Elder in the community. This is causing great emotional and spiritual harm to us and our people. The pain is simply too great to tolerate.
“The unfortunate public exposure of some of these allegations also calls on us to reiterate that Dardi Munwurro is a family violence service for the First Nations community.
“Furthermore, we are deeply committed to supporting all women to feel safe and respected in the community. We encourage everyone in the community to take this stance.”
On Wednesday, Collingwood president Jeff Browne said the club would back Kelly and provide a response to the Federal Court claim.
Collingwood was contacted for comment about Dardi Munwurro’s decision.
Cleaver started as Collingwood’s head of First Nations programs in February, but was removed from that role in May. The claims he has made to the court were filed in an application against that dismissal. The matter is listed to be heard later this month.
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