Latest news with #AuntyJoyMurphy
News.com.au
04-08-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Melbourne Storm apologises for cancelling Welcome to Country ceremony
The Melbourne Storm have formally apologised to First Nations people for the decision to cancel the Welcome to Country ceremony on Anzac Day this year. A planned Welcome to Country ceremony in April for Melbourne's match against South Sydney was cancelled at the last minute, causing distress among the Wurundjeri People. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy was scheduled to perform the service at the Storm's AAMI Park match before she was informed just hours before kick-off the Welcome to Country ceremony was no longer wanted. Two First Nations groups were also scheduled to perform on the night, but after the confusion they all opted to cancel their performances. The cancellation came following an incident at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance that morning when neo-Nazis booed and heckled when Bunurong elder Mark Brown began his Welcome to Country. The Storm later released a statement blaming a 'miscommunication' for the cancellation. 'We were all just dumbfounded,' Aunty Joy told The Age at the time. 'We would dearly love to be out there, but they've broken our hearts. 'We want to rebuild our relationship. We want to make them (realise) that this was wrong, hurtful, deceitful and tokenistic.' Aunty Joy has since delivered a Welcome to Country at several sporting events, including AFL games and last weekend's Super Netball Grand Final in Melbourne. Now ahead of this weekend's NRL Indigenous Round, the Storm have issued a formal apology and confirmed an Acknowledgement of Country would be held at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Thursday night before the game against the Broncos. '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 Storm said in a statement on Monday. 'The Club extends that apology to First Nations and MÄ�ori and Pasifika communities impacted. '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. 'Indigenous Round presents the opportunity to not only honour the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players who have worn the purple jersey, but also the club's commitment to creating an environment that respects and celebrates First Nations cultures — not just during Indigenous Round, but throughout the year. 'Melbourne Storm is built on the strength of our many cultures, including our longstanding relationship with First Nations and MÄ�ori and Pasifika communities and we remain committed to ensuring our social and community programs continue to make a positive impact.' On Monday the Storm also unveiled their jersey for Indigenous Round, which features a dot painting created by Warumungu and Yawuru man David Roe (Roey). The club said the jersey will be worn during the NRL's Indigenous Round and is a powerful and symbolic design that represents the journey of the Club's past and present Indigenous players. The NRL's Indigenous Round takes place over the next two rounds of the NRL and NRLW seasons, beginning on Thursday night in Melbourne.
ABC News
04-08-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Melbourne Storm apologises for cancelling Welcome to Country in Anzac Round
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 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."
7NEWS
04-08-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Melbourne Storm issues public apology months after Welcome to Country drama
The Melbourne Storm have issued a public apology to First Nations and Māori and Pasifika communities, three months after a botched pre-match build-up to their Anzac Day clash against South Sydney. Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy was set to perform a Welcome to Country at AAMI Park on the night of April 25 before being told by the Storm she was no longer required. The club later reversed its decision and apologised to the revered Indigenous elder, but the damage was already done, with Aunty Joy no longer willing to conduct the ceremony. Now, on the eve of the NRL's Indigenous round, more than three months after the Anzac Day incident, the club has issued a formal public apology. '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,' a statement reads. 'The club extends that apology to First Nations and Māori and Pasifika communities impacted. '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. 'Indigenous Round presents the opportunity to not only honour the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players who have worn the purple jersey, but also the club's commitment to creating an environment that respects and celebrates First Nations cultures — not just during Indigenous round, but throughout the year. 'Melbourne Storm is built on the strength of our many cultures, including our long-standing relationship with First Nations and Māori and Pasifika communities and we remain committed to ensuring our social and community programs continue to make a positive impact. 'The club will share the story and design of its 2025 Indigenous Jersey this week.' On the night, the Maori Ngā Mātai Pūrua and Djirri Djirri, a Wurundjeri female dance group, were on the ground rehearsing performances of their own when they were told of the initial decision on Aunty Joy, after which they refused to go ahead with their scheduled dance. Aunty Joy and the dance groups were given no concrete explanation for the decision, other than to say it was a board decision. 'We were all just dumbfounded,' Aunty Joy said at the time. After their apology to Aunty Joy, the Storm then engaged leaders from the two dance groups to try to salvage their planned contribution to the pre-match acknowledgements, but were denied. 'After being disrespected, we couldn't then go forward with a smile on our face and act,' Djirri Djirri lead dancer Ky-ya Nicholson Ward said. Aunty Joy said it was upsetting for everyone involved. 'We would dearly love to be out there, but they've broken our hearts,' she said. 'We want to rebuild our relationship. We want to make them realise that this was wrong, hurtful, deceitful and tokenistic. But we want to help look after our communities in the NRL and the current players for Storm too.' Booing and heckling rang out across the Shrine of Remembrance during the Welcome to Country that preceded Melbourne's showpiece dawn service earlier that morning on Anzac Day. Jacob Hersant, a self-declared neo-Nazi and the first person in Victoria to be convicted of performing the Nazi salute, was seen being led away from the shrine by police after the protest.
The Age
04-08-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Melbourne Storm apologise over cancelled Welcome to Country on Anzac Day
Melbourne Storm have apologised to First Nations communities over the events of Anzac Day when the NRL club's Welcome to Country ceremony was cancelled at the last minute. The Storm said it had been in ongoing communication with members of the Wurundjeri community since April 25, when the ceremony that had been slated to take place before the match against the South Sydney Rabbitohs was cancelled, causing distress among Indigenous communities. In the days that followed, the Storm took responsibility for what they said was an internal miscommunication that meant the Welcome to Country ceremony at AAMI Park was cancelled at the last minute, a situation that left the club's chairman disappointed 'beyond words'. Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy was scheduled to perform the service. Performances from First Nations groups were also planned. The Storm said on Monday they will have an Acknowledgement of Country before Thursday night's clash against Brisbane Broncos, part of the NRL's Indigenous Round. '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 club extends that apology to First Nations and Māori and Pasifika communities impacted,' the Storm said in a statement. '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.'
Daily Mail
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Officials blame a 'miscommunication' for last minute Welcome to Country cancellation at blockbuster sporting event
The Melbourne Storm has blamed a 'miscommunication' after a Welcome to Country ceremony at its annual Anzac Day game was cancelled. Storm officials told NewsWire there was a 'miscommunication' between the club and two indigenous performing groups that were booked to perform in the lead up to the game against South Sydney at AAMI Park on Friday night. The Storm released a statement which read: 'There was a miscommunication of expectations regarding the use [of] Welcome to Country at Melbourne Storm events throughout the year. We acknowledge and accept the timing and miscommunication was not ideal and we have spoken to the groups concerned this afternoon.' Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy was set to perform the service at the Storm's match before she was told just hours before kick-off the Welcome to Country ceremony was no longer wanted. The Age said the club reversed its decision and asked her to continue as planned after issuing her an apology. 'We were all just dumbfounded,' Aunty Joy told The Age. 'We would dearly love to be out there, but they've broken our hearts. 'We want to rebuild our relationship. We want to make them (realise) that this was wrong, hurtful, deceitful and tokenistic.' The Storm ran an Acknowledgement of Country message on the big screens before their Anzac commemoration. Two First Nations groups, the Maori Ngā Mātai Pūrua and Wurundjeri dance group, Djirri Djirri, cancelled their performances after learning Aunty Joy would not be delivering her ceremony. The Welcome to Country has become a highly polarising issue at major events across the country on Anzac Day. Earlier, a prominent neo-Nazi attended a dawn service at the Shrine of Remembrance in the Melbourne CBD on Friday morning and allegedly participated in a chorus of boos when Bunurong elder Mark Brown began his Welcome to Country. Their booing was drowned out by the rest of the crowd, who cheered in protest as the act was widely condemned. A spokesperson for Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia a 26-year-old man from Kensington was directed to leave the area following the disruption. Police have interviewed him for 'offensive behaviour' and will proceed via a summons. Within hours, a lone heckler derailed a Welcome to Country led by Noongar Elder and veteran Di Ryder at a dawn service at Perth's King Park. WA Police have appealed for information following the incident. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese slammed those who interrupted the dawn service Welcome to Country ceremonies, claiming they must 'face the full force of the law'. He described the conduct as 'disgraceful', adding there is 'no place in Australia for what occurred'. 'The disruption of Anzac Day is beyond contempt, and the people responsible must face the full force of the law. This was an act of low cowardice on a day when we honour courage and sacrifice,' he said.
