Melbourne Storm apologises for cancelling Welcome to Country in Anzac Round
Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy 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."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
15 minutes ago
- ABC News
North-West Thunder to risk club closure in high-stakes solo bid for basketball licence
The North-West Thunder will defy the wishes of Basketball Tasmania and refuse to engage in any merger talks with the Launceston Tornadoes, as the battle for northern Tasmania's sole NBL1 basketball licence intensifies. Instead, the Thunder will adopt an all-or-nothing approach and chance its arm on a standalone bid for the license, which could shape the future of basketball in the region. It is a move that Thunder chair James Leslie knows could spell the end of the club, but one he described as a "risk we have to take". "We want what's best for basketball, and if it's not the model we've put forward, then we just hope that with the decisions that are made, there is accountability [from Basketball Tasmania] to results in the longer term." Currently, the Thunder and Tornadoes share the sole northern Tasmanian licence. The Thunder, based in Ulverstone, are the league's sole standalone men's team, while the Launceston Tornadoes are the only standalone women's team. But the operators of the NBL1 South competition, Basketball Victoria, want just one club — consisting of both a men's and women's team — to hold the licence, citing logistical and travel challenges for rival clubs based in Victoria. It means the Thunder and Tornadoes have had to enter a fight for the licence, which will only be granted with the endorsement of Basketball Tasmania. While the Tornadoes have been open to a joint venture with the Thunder, that would see operations split between Launceston and Ulverstone, the Thunder have long held reservations about that model. "Basketball Tasmania obviously has a mandate which must be to try and please everybody in the process, but we don't think that's possible. "The biggest issue is a lack of a home base, trying to work equally in each region. It just doesn't work." "It doesn't work practically, it doesn't work financially, and it puts us in a position that gives us duty of care issues with the amount of travel that's involved with these athletes," he said. With the Thunder reluctant to participate in a joint bid, both clubs submitted standalone applications for the licence last month. The Thunder's bid included a proposed 6-5 split of home games between Ulverstone and Launceston, with the club's operations remaining based on the coast. But in a twist, Basketball Tasmania refused to endorse either application, citing a desire for the two clubs to further develop a "unified submission" akin to a merger. That has angered the Thunder to the extent that it will now revert to an original plan that included a 9-2 split of home games between Ulverstone and Launceston. And if that bid proves unsuccessful by the August 29 deadline, the Thunder said it would "remove ourselves from consideration accordingly". The Tornadoes declined to provide comment, but did confirm that representatives from the club would attend a "meeting with key stakeholders" that was scheduled for last night. However, the Thunder, which was invited, told the ABC it would not be in attendance. Basketball Tasmania declined to comment. The impasse leaves Basketball Tasmania in the position of likely having to choose between the Tornadoes or the Thunder, with the unsuccessful club to be consigned to the sidelines next year and beyond. The exclusion of either team would heavily impact basketball in the north and the north-west. The Launceston Tornadoes were established in 1993 and are a mainstay of Tasmanian women's sport. In 1995, they became the first Tasmanian team to win the Australian Basketball Association national championship, under coach Michael House. Launceston Basketball Association general manager Kelly Renny backed a joint venture between the Tornadoes and Thunder. "Excluding either region from access to this licence would be detrimental. It risks fragmenting the sport, limiting opportunities for development, and reducing the quality of the experience for participants and spectators." The Thunder represent Tasmania's north-west coast, considered the state's basketball heartland, and the region that has produced perhaps the highest level of talent relative to its population. That includes Golden State Warriors' Taran Armstrong, current Australian Boomer Reyne Smith, and strong NBA prospect Jacob Furphy. The eight clubs of the traditionally strong North West Basketball Union (NWBU) have all formally backed the North West Thunder's stance. In a statement, Greg Miller, president of Penguin Basketball Association, said on behalf of eight NWBU clubs, that what "little was known" of the proposed merged model with the Tornadoes "simply didn't offer the clarity, connection, or confidence that our clubs — and more importantly, our communities — need". "The Thunder program already has a proud history in the north-west, a loyal supporter base, and strong links to local junior and senior competitions. It has a clear identity and a proper home base at Ulverstone's Harcourts Stadium — something the merged proposal doesn't adequately address," he said. "We want a team in NBL1 that is of the north, for the north — one with a home and a long-term future. We believe a standalone model delivers on that, rather than a forced merger of two diametrically opposed sides that have too many differences to be solved in such a short time frame.
ABC News
15 minutes ago
- ABC News
Steph Catley short-listed for Ballon d'Or Feminin, Harry Kane among men's nominees
Matildas captain Steph Catley has been short-listed for the biggest individual honour in women's soccer, nominated among the game's top 30 players for the Ballon d'Or. The 31-year-old Arsenal defender, a key figure in the London club's Women's Champions League triumph, is the only Australian to feature in the annual awards, with her Matildas teammate Mary Fowler perhaps unlucky to miss out on a nomination. It is a reward for Catley's enduring excellence at the back for both club and country, as she has filled in as Australia's skipper in the long-term absence of injured captain Sam Kerr. Alongside fellow Matildas Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross in the Arsenal success story, Catley was excellent in central defence throughout the Gunners' march to the triumph in Europe's biggest women's tournament. She has been nominated alongside six of her clubmates, including Mariona Caldentey, who's considered the most likely candidate to stop Barcelona's brilliant Aitana Bonmati, her Spain teammate, achieving a hat-trick of triumphs when the winner is announced in Paris on September 22. The awards ceremony has been moved a month earlier than normal after two straight years of being plonked in the women's international window, meaning many stars could not attend. Do you have a story idea about women in sport? Email us abcsport5050@ Catley, who's been capped 138 times for her country, is the third Australian woman to be short-listed since the Ballon d'Or Feminin was first introduced in 2018, with Kerr having had five nominations — she finished second in 2023 and third the previous two years — and Hayley Raso also being listed in 2023. Five of England's European Championship-winning squad have also been nominated for the award, headed by Catley's Arsenal teammates, Leah Williamson, her fellow centre-back, Chloe Kelly and Alessia Russo. Aitana Bonmatí will be trying to win her third straight, while Spain's 2024 men's winner, Rodri, is not nominated this time around. Four Englishmen have also been nominated for the men's Ballon d'Or — Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Cole Palmer and Declan Rice. But the overwhelming favourite is Paris St Germain's Ousmane Dembele, one of nine players nominated from the outstanding men's Champions League-winning outfit. Women's Ballon d'Or nominees: Sandy Baltimore, Barbra Banda, Aitana Bonmati, Lucy Bronze, Klara Buhl, Mariona Caldentey, Sofia Cantore, Steph Catley, Temwa Chawinga, Melchie Dumornay, Emily Fox, Cristiana Girelli, Esther Gonzalez, Caroline Graham Hansen, Hannah Hampton, Pernille Harder, Patri Guijarro, Amanda Gutierres, Lindsey Heaps, Chloe Kelly, Frida Leonhardsen-Maanum, Marta, Clara Mateo, Ewa Pajor, Claudia Pina, Alexia Putellas, Alessia Russo, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Caroline Weir, Leah Williamson. Men's Ballon d'Or nominees: Ousmane Dembele, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Jude Bellingham, Desire Doue, Denzel Dumfries, Serhou Guirassy, Erling Haaland, Viktor Gyokeres, Achraf Hakimi, Harry Kane, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Robert Lewandowski, Alexis Mac Allister, Lautaro Martinez, Scott McTominay, Kylian Mbappe, Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, Pedri, Cole Palmer, Michael Olise, Raphinha, Declan Rice, Fabian Ruiz, Lamine Yamal, Florian Wirtz, Vitinha, Vinicius Junior, Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah. AAP
News.com.au
15 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Matildas star and partner reveal ‘shock' baby gender test news
Matildas star Emily van Egmond and her wife Kat Thompson have revealed 'shock' news about their upcoming baby. The duo have been keeping their followers up to date with their journey after announcing they were expecting in April. Thompson posted a video of the couple on Instagram in June, showing them digging two glasses into a cake as they discovered the baby's gender. Or so they thought. On Thursday, Thompson shared the gender reveal video again and explained that the initial news they had excitedly witnessed was actually wrong. 'Little did they know there was a lab error with their gender test and would go 16 weeks picking a name, buying clothes, and sharing the news before finding out the truth,' a text banner on the video clip read. Thompson further clarified what had unfolded in the caption of her post. 'So our gender reveal was a flop, which was definitely a shock originally, but makes for a good story now!' she wrote. 'So many people ended up seeing our first post with this video and were upset it was black&white, but that's mainly because it was wrong! And we love these moments, but some details we want to keep to ourselves and family. �Strongly advise against any early gender blood tests!' The shock revelation comes after the pair melted hearts online when they announced the heartwarming news that they were expecting. Van Egmond posted two images of the loved-up couple holding up ultrasound pictures of their new family member. The Matildas midfielder had a hand on Kat's stomach as they looked into each other's eyes with the post captioned: 'Baby Van Egmond coming October' alongside a love heart emoji. The post attracted a flood of comments from fellow soccer players over the moon about the announcement. Australian soccer player Lydia Williams wrote: 'So exciting.' Irish soccer star Katie McCabe commented three love heart eyes. The baby announcement came after the two tied the knot in late December 2024 in the Hunter Valley. The pair beamed from ear to ear as they greeted their guests following the ceremony, which took place at a winery in the picturesque Krinklewood Estate. Kat wore a stunning white dress, and van Egmond, 31, wore a black dinner jacket and bow tie for the nuptials.
