The Melbourne Cup kicked off with a revamped entertainment program that included a welcome to country performance by Uncle Colin Hunter.
Although the crowd at Flemington cheered for the Wurundjeri leader’s gesture, it didn’t go over well among the spectators.
Hunter’s welcome was shorter than usual, and his brief speech was passed to the next segment of the show, which was headlined by Ronan Keating.
The members of the Wurundjeri tribe belong to the Kulin Nation, and they are welcomed on traditional lands.
The traditional welcome was not well-received by the spectators. Many of them criticized the performance on social media.
One user noted that it felt like the welcome had become meaningless after a couple of appearances.
One user noted that it felt like the welcome had become meaningless after a couple of appearances. Another person criticized the gesture, saying that it was inappropriate to welcome people before the sixth race of the day.
The festivities began with a performance by Keating, who sang a duet with Ricki-Lee, an Australian celebrity. The crowd at the stadium was thrilled by the event, which was held under sunny skies.
During the pre-race entertainment, the crowd paid tribute to legendary jockey John Patterson OAM.
John Patterson, who was the longest-serving clerk of the course in the history of the Melbourne Cup, died last month.
His sons, Shane and Peter, carried the trophy into the stadium before it was handed over to Ariarne Titmus.
The national anthem of Australia was then performed by Greta Bradman, the granddaughter of Sir Donald Bradman.
6 Comments
how did this guy get the name Hunter does he have a pommie heratige
Hunter is a Scottish surname. There are actually quite a few people with the surname Hunter who also have an Indigenous heritage.
Waste of $$$ with the B/S going on separating factions of Australia.
1 Country,we are all part of what we have today and one doesn’t like it they can leave or adjust to suit the Country we used to have
It is not an indigenous tradition. It is a recent invention – allegedly by Ernie Dingo on request from Maori’s and Pacific island nations during an indigenous celebration in the 1970s.
I always marvel at how each time more clans are discovered. And also how all the Aunties, uncles and elders look more white than Aboriginal.
why do we people born here need to have a “welcome to country” if you look around the flemington area away from the racetrack there isn’t much much aboriginals have done for the area so stop insulting the people born here