The Melbourne Storm has apologised for the late cancellation of a Welcome to Country ceremony which had been scheduled to be held prior to its Anzac Day match.
Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin had been at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium to perform the ceremony before the Storm’s game on April 25, but the ceremony did not go ahead.
The Melbourne said at the time that the club’s “board had not approved for it to be held on Anzac Day”.
The cancellation 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.
Months later, and on the eve of the NRL’s Indigenous Round, a statement issued by the Storm said it had extended apologies to the Wurundjeri community.
“Melbourne Storm has been in ongoing communication with members of the Wurundjeri community following the events on Anzac Day and has apologised to the individuals, groups, and communities involved,” the statement read.
“The club extends that apology to First Nations and Maori and Pasifika communities impacted.”
The Storm also confirmed there would be no Welcome to Country held before the Indigenous Round match against Brisbane, with an Acknowledgement of Country being held instead.
“As we continue to engage with the local community regarding connection to the club and cultural protocols, and out of respect for those involved, the club will recognise the traditional owners of the land through an Acknowledgement of Country on Thursday night for Indigenous Round.”
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