Source : ABC NEWS
The Melbourne Storm’s decision not to have a Welcome to Country ceremony before its Anzac Day clash has prompted a major partner to sever ties with the NRL club.
The Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS), which runs the Deadly Choices program in the state, said it was cancelling its campaign with the Storm.
A statement posted on social media by VAHS said this was a direct result of the club’s treatment of Wurundjeri elder Joy Murphy Wandin before the round eight game against South Sydney at AAMI Park.
VAHS, which has been operating since 1973, said the decision “was disrespectful to Aunty Joy and the Wurundjeri People … [and] had hurtful impact on Aboriginal people throughout Naarm and across the country”.
Aunty Joy Murphy delivered the Welcome to Country before the Storm’s 2022 Indigenous Round game against Manly. (Getty Images: Daniel Pockett)
“This decision made by the Melbourne Storm board demonstrated a lack of respect and cultural sensitivity towards Aboriginal people and communities,” VAHS said in a letter to Storm chief executive Justin Rodski.
“Such an action is inconsistent with our values of respect, cultural integrity and cultural safety. The decision has initiated poor well-being, including feelings of sadness and anger among our community and stakeholders.”
After it became clear that the Welcome to Country had not been held before the Anzac Day game despite Aunty Joy being at the ground to deliver the address, the Storm said the club’s “board had not approved for it to be held on Anzac Day”.
It came hours after Bunurong and Gunditjmara man Uncle Mark Brown was booed and heckled by members of the crowd at the dawn service at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance.
The Storm said its decision was not related to the booing earlier in the day, but Aunty Joy said she was told it was.
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The club chalked the decision up to a miscommunication over whether the ceremony had been approved to go ahead and chairman Matt Tripp told Nine: “Once we understood the programming from management, we gave the green light to progress. By then, it was understandably too late for those who had already been informed of our earlier decision.”
The Storm have held smoking ceremonies, traditional Aboriginal and Māori dances and numerous Welcomes to Country before games alongside the commemoration of the nations’ military history at Anzac Day clashes in previous years.
The Storm officially partnered with Deadly Choices and VAHS in 2021.
In 2022, VAHS chief executive Michael Graham said the organisation was “proud to be associated with the Melbourne Storm based on the club’s own strong ties to the Aboriginal community”.
The Storm had a Welcome to Country before the 2021 Anzac Day game. (Getty Images: Robert Cianflone)
“We appreciate the opportunities we have had to work together with Melbourne Storm thus far and trust that future engagements will reflect a genuine, iron-clad commitment to honouring Aboriginal lore, people and place,” VAHS said in announcing its split.
The Storm’s website says the club celebrates its connection to and recognition of Indigenous people “across a range of partnerships and programs”.
Among those partnerships is specialist Aboriginal family violence service Dardi Munwurro.
Deadly Choices is listed as an “official partner” on the Melbourne Storm website.
The club has been contacted for comment.
