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
