by CRYSTAL-ROSE JONES – THE Victorian Aboriginal Health Services has ended its alliance with Melbourne Storm after the NRL 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.
- “Our friends died for this country, for this soil – and for them, the ‘welcome’ is a slap in the face.”
- Welcome to Country has lost its relevance and meaning through overuse.
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.
HURTFUL
“Melbourne Storm’s decision to cancel 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,” VAHS said in a statement posted online.
“This decision made by the Storm 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 Storm ran counter to cultural integrity and safety.
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 Maori 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.
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.
DISRESPECTFUL
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 to them.
“I have a lot of veteran mates who haven’t come today solely because of the Welcome to Country. Our friends died for this country, for this soil – and for them, the ‘welcome’ is a slap in the face,” he told a reporter.
The ceremony has opposition amongst the Indigenous community, too.
Last year, Queensland’s Juru Indigenous people voted against performing Welcome to Country, saying it had been misused for profit and had lost any authentic meaning.PC
I am far from a Melbourne Storm supporter, but in this instance, I applaud their decision to remove the Welcome to Country from their matches. As a third-generation Aussie, I don’t need to be welcomed to my own country before a regular football match.
It has commenced a slide into a ‘Them and Us’ situation. We are ALL Australian under one flag, and separation by indigenous is also a nod to Apartheid! This we do not want in our multicultural society. Time for them to stop making money out of playing the victims in this country! I owe them nothing. I was born here, and I did not hurt anyone. I actually wish that Jacinta Nampijinpa Price could become Prime Minister one day. More people should read her life story, and then understand what education and ‘meritorious ‘means.
Guess that means the end of the Storm, hopefully they will see out the end of season
Grifters always complain when the grift ends.
Aboriginal activism along with islam are big threats to this nation: along with left wing politicians and 95% of the msm.
Have I missed anyone.
The official definition of an “indigenous” person is someone who was born here.
60% of people voted – with one “VOICE” – in favour of each of us treating the others as equals in order to “Advance Australia Fair” – no matter where our parents or ancestors floated or flew in from.
In fact, in order to survive, we toiled for hundreds of years to build a wonderful community based on mateship and the “fair go” for all.
No matter if your family prevailed for two years, or were dumped on the shore – many against their will and as prisoners to survive or die by cruel masters – two centuries ago, or trekked overland to get here 60 centuries before.
So, rather than commercialise it, wouldn’t it just be better to give the nearest punter a slap on the back and the time-honoured greeting – “can I get you a beer mate”? (5% or 0% of course).