The Melbourne Storm’s controversial decision to not stage a Welcome to Country ceremony before its Anzac Day clash against South Sydney at AAMI Park has resulted in a major partner ending ties with the NRL club.
The Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS), which runs the Deadly Choices program across the state, confirmed they were cancelling its campaign with the Storm.
In a statement, VAHS said the cancellation showed ‘a lack of respect and cultural sensitivity towards Aboriginal people.’
‘Our decision is directly related to the Melbourne Storm board’s decision to cancel Aunty Joy’s Welcome to Country at the Anzac Day match,’ the statement began.
‘This decision directly had a hurtful impact on Aunty Joy, the Djirri Djirri dancers and the Wurundjeri People.
‘We are mindful that the negative ripple effect was also felt by Aboriginal people across Naarm, the state and the nation.
The Melbourne Storm’s decision to not stage a Welcome to Country ceremony before its Anzac Day clash at AAMI Park has resulted in a major partner ending ties with the NRL club (pictured, five-eighth Cameron Munster)
The Victorian Aboriginal Health Service said in a statement the Storm’s decision had a ‘hurtful impact’ on Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin (pictured), the Djirri Djirri dancers and Wurundjeri People
‘The decision made by the Melbourne Storm board demonstrated a lack of respect and cultural sensitivity towards Aboriginal people and communities, specifically in relation to the treatment and recognition of Aunty Joy and the Wurundjeri people, particularly their cultural protocols and practices.
‘Such an action is inconsistent with our values of respect, cultural integrity and cultural safety.
‘The decision has initiated poor wellbeing, including feelings of sadness and anger among our community and stakeholders.
‘Our organisation is dedicated to fostering respectful, inclusive and culturally safe environments for Aboriginal people and unfortunately, the actions and decisions taken by the Melbourne Storm board have compromised these principles.’
The Storm board cancelled the ceremony following an ugly booing incident at Melbourne’s main dawn service, where one person involved was a known Neo-Nazi.
Melbourne Storm chairman Matt Tripp said the club’s handling of the situation ‘upset him greatly’ and he was ‘disappointed beyond words.’
The ABC reported fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen said on the 167 Podcast he hosts with teammates Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster the playing group were left in the dark as to what was unfolding.
‘We as players were not entirely sure what was going on, we were a little bit confused,’ he said.
‘We just wanted to throw our support behind Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander people. That decision was above us, we weren’t sure what went on that day.’
On their club website, the Storm outline how they celebrate its connection to Indigenous people ‘across a range of partnerships and programs.’