Aboriginal Group Cuts Ties With Melbourne Storm After Welcome to Country Axing

Victorian Aboriginal Health Services organised participation for Indigenous children during half-time games.

An indigenous Australian during the round three NRL match between Newcastle Knights and Melbourne Storm at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, Australia on March 24, 2024. Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

The Victorian Aboriginal Health Services (VAHS) has ended its alliance with the Melbourne Storm after the National Rugby League club cancelled the Indigenous Welcome to Country ceremony at its Anzac Day home game against the Rabbitohs.

In a letter to Melbourne Storm CEO Justin Rodski and approved by VAHS CEO Michael Graham, the VAHS said the “difficult decision” had been made to withdraw from the partnership, citing disrespect for Indigenous elder Aunty Joy Murphy who would have delivered the ceremony.

The Deadly Choices Health Check partnership included the Storm printing the VAHS logo on their warm-up shirts, which were also made available to health check participants.

The initiative, at its core, worked to encourage Indigenous Australians to make healthier decisions on diet and exercise, with the VAHS playing a role as a key organiser for Indigenous children to play half-time games.

“The Melbourne Storm Board’s decision to cancel the Welcome to Country was disrespectful to Aunty Joy and the Wurundjeri People, has had a ripple effect and hurtful impact on Aboriginal People throughout Naarm (Melbourne) and across the country, and is not reflective of VAHS’ values of respect, cultural integrity, and cultural safety,” the VAHS said in a statement posted online.

“This decision made by the Melbourne Storm Board demonstrated a lack of respect and cultural sensitivity towards Aboriginal people and communities, specifically in relation to the treatment and recognition of Aunty Joy and the Wurundjeri people, particularly their cultural protocols and practices.”

VAHS said the move by the Melbourne Storm ran counter to cultural integrity and safety.

Aunty Joy Murphy speaks at the Welcome To Country for the Trophy arrival ceremony during day one of the 2024 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Jan. 14, 2024. Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Axing of Ceremony a Misunderstanding: Club

The Welcome to Country was cancelled on match day, soon after a group of men booed and heckled Melbourne’s flagship Anzac Day dawn service.

The Melbourne Storm later issued a statement to say the axing of the ceremony had been a “misunderstanding” and denied any link to earlier events.

“We will continue to have discussions with First Nations and Māori communities to understand and strengthen our ongoing relationship,” the Storm said in a statement.

The Epoch Times contacted the Melbourne Storm for comment on the withdrawal of the VAHS partnership.

Not So Welcome to Country

Started in the 1970s, the Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement to Country, are ceremonies performed by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander elders to “welcome” guests to their land at public events.

It has become a topic of debate with those in favour saying the ceremony represents a mark of respect for tradition and culture, while those against say it has lost its relevance and meaning through overuse.

Former Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said its overuse would cheapen its significance, while current One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson called the ceremonies divisive.

Additionally, a serviceman who spoke at the Melbourne Dawn Service told reporters some veterans were avoiding Anzac Day services because they felt the Welcome to Country was disrespectful.

“I have a lot of veteran mates who haven’t come today solely because of the Welcome to Country because our friends died for this country, for this soil, and for them the ‘welcome’ is a slap in the face,” he told the reporter.

The ceremony has opposition amongst the Indigenous community, too.

Last year, Queensland’s Juru Indigenous people voted against performing the Welcome to Country, saying it had been misused for profit and had lost any authentic meaning.