Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin plans to attend the Melbourne Storm’s home game despite ongoing tensions with the club’s board. This decision follows the unprecedented cancellation of her Welcome to Country ceremony. That was the plan at least for it to occur during the team’s Anzac Day match at home. The Melbourne Storm’s board unexpectedly rejected the ceremony, resulting in an outcry from within the team and the Wurundjeri community.
Aunty Joy said she felt “gutted” about the cancellation and that she had come to the stadium expecting to sing. In reaction, Melbourne Storm downed tools and issued a written apology to her for the blunder. Aunty Joy, Council with the players, staff, and the wider community’s needs at all times. She’ll be flipping the enormity of that promise on its head by attending Thursday night’s game.
Community Concerns and Board Issues
The same relationship with Melbourne Storm has drawn criticism from the Wurundjeri people. They are especially concerned with claims of a problematic relationship between one board member and the lobby organization Advance Australia. Aunty Joy stressed that this relationship affects their capacity and security in being able to carry out traditional practices like welcoming ceremonies. She stated, “We cannot support an organisation that has associations with any group that incites racial vilification and division.”
Ky-Ya Nicholson, Wurundjeri woman Ky-Ya is a wonderfully gifted Djirri Djirri dancer. As an Aboriginal person, she said she felt the cancellation of the Welcome to Country especially. She was scheduled to sing in the Anzac Day match. Nicholson shared sentiments echoed by others in the community, saying that Djirri Djirri will not be associated with Melbourne Storm “until there is meaningful change at board level.”
Aunty Joy used that opportunity to re-emphasise accountability and integrity to her people. She remarked, “I carry a deep responsibility to community and will not compromise my integrity as a proud Aboriginal woman and community elder.”
A Lost Opportunity for Respect
The disappointment and hurt caused by the cancellation of the Welcome to Country ceremony extended past Aunty Joy’s immediate experience. Nicholson noted the situation as a significant missed opportunity to honor Aunty Joy’s veteran father and all First Peoples who served alongside Australian soldiers.
This is about the board, not the game. This is about setting a standard not just for Melbourne Storm but across all sporting codes,” Aunty Joy stated. Just weeks after that separate event, Uncle Mark Brown, a Bunurong and Gunditjmara man, was booed and heckled for speaking out at a dawn service. Here, the incident occurred at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance. This only compounded the historical, ongoing tensions surrounding Indigenous representation and recognition within sport.
Future Relations with Melbourne Storm
The continuing divide has opened up what we believe is a crucial turning point that could shape the future relationship between the Wurundjeri people and Melbourne Storm. The Djirri Djirri women’s dance group remove themselves from the collaboration. They will come back as soon as they see positive movement on proper governance of the club.
Community leader Aunty Joy remains unbowed. Her advocacy has been crucial in the fight for Indigenous culture and sovereignty to be respected and recognized in mainstream sports. “I will always stand strong beside community and as a leader take responsibility to care for those who hurt badly,” she said.
