Senior Aboriginal Elder and local Wurundjeri custodian Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin said she was “profoundly disappointed” on Friday. Melbourne Storm told her that the Welcome to Country, which she was scheduled to deliver at the club’s Anzac Day match, would be scrapped. The board’s decision to proceed has left Aunty Joy’s heart broken. She is completely devastated, particularly since she had planned to pay tribute to her father’s legacy as a war veteran by wearing his medals to the event.
At eightysomething, Aunty Joy was spry enough to walk herself onto the field. She was joined by members of the Djirri Djirri dance group, custodians of the Kulin Nations, who are Wurundjeri people. The three-day event was created to be a turning point. It linked Aboriginal culture to the rest of the community by opening the day with a traditional Aboriginal Welcome to Country. Yet when the club sent out cancellation notices after learning of the cancellation, Aunty Joy rejected the club’s request to play.
Miscommunication and Distress
Even the Melbourne Storm managed to squander the Welcome to Country. They justified this decision by pointing to, as they described it, pervasive miscommunication regarding the application of such ceremonies to their events. A spokesperson from the club stated, “There was a miscommunication of expectations regarding the use of Welcome to Country at Melbourne Storm events throughout the year.” And then they realized that their timing of communication just wasn’t right. They added on Twitter that they had begun conversations with the relevant parties later that same day.
Aunty Joy’s sentiments are echoed across communities, speaking to the much larger implications of this shocking and harmful cancellation. She called the decision “offensive,” saying that the court’s decision should affirm the necessity to protect Aboriginal culture and traditions. Kathleen Terrick, a member of the Djirri Djirri dance group, echoed Aunty Joy’s feelings, asserting, “When it comes to our elders, we are not going to stand by and let our elders be disrespected.”
Response from Melbourne Storm
The decision to cancel has left many fans and supporters wondering what it means for the club’s efforts to truly honour Aboriginal culture. Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy said he didn’t know about the Welcome to Country ceremony, or its cancellation afterwards. He said it’s the first he’s heard of that, a sign of communication issues between the coaching and the club administration on the importance of these cultural events.
In light of all that shit, Aunty Joy and other members of the Djirri Djirri dance troupe decided to do something about it. Instead, they opted to not dance their booked performance without the appropriate Welcome to Country. While commercially risky, this decision reinforces their sense of cultural integrity and respectful, spiritual commitment to tradition.
A Call for Respect
Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin has been performing Welcome to Country ceremonies for 40 years, including this one in 2021. Her experience is a testament to the power of these rituals to promote awareness, comprehension, and acknowledgment of Aboriginal history. The recent cancellation is a stark reminder of the conversations that continue to be had regarding cultural respect and representation within the realm of sports.
As Melbourne Storm continues to work through this moment, community members and activists urge more respect, understanding, and care for Indigenous customs and practices. We hope that any future events will better prioritize inclusivity and respect toward Aboriginal elders and their customs.
