MELBOURNE, VICTORIA – Melbourne Storm has issued an apology to the Wurundjeri community and extended it to First Nations, Maori, and Pasifika communities for canceling a Welcome to Country ceremony on Anzac Day.
The ceremony, which was scheduled to be performed by Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin, was called off at the last minute, with the club citing a lack of board approval.
Aunty Joy was already at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium when the decision was made.
The cancellation came on the same day that 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.
Although the Storm denied any connection to the earlier incident, Aunty Joy claimed she was told the cancellation was related to the booing.
In a statement, the Storm said it had been in ongoing communication with the Wurundjeri community since the incident and had apologized to the individuals, groups, and communities involved.
Instead of a Welcome to Country, the club will hold an Acknowledgement of Country before its Indigenous Round match against Brisbane on Thursday night.
The club stated that it would recognize the traditional owners of the land through an Acknowledgement of Country, as it continues to engage with the local community regarding connection to the club and cultural protocols.
If you have any information or concerns about Welcome to Country ceremonies, please contact the Wurundjeri community or the Melbourne Storm directly.