Performers ‘hurt and shocked’ by Welcome to Country cancellation

Indigenous groups in Victoria have criticised the Melbourne Storm after the NRL club cancelled a Welcome to Country ceremony hours before their Anzac Day clash against South Sydney.

Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy was to deliver the Welcome to Country at AAMI Park and performances by Maori group Ngā Mātai Pūrua and Wurundjeri dance group Djirri Djirri were also scheduled.

But during rehearsals before the game Ms Murphy said she was told by the club’s board that they no longer wanted the Welcome to Country to go ahead.

“We were all just dumbfounded,” Aunty Joy said.

Ngā Mātai Pūrua and Djirri Djirri then withdrew from performing at the game.

Ms Murphy said the club then apologised and asked her to go ahead, but local Indigenous groups said no.

“We would dearly love to be out there, but they’ve broken our hearts,” Ms Murphy said.

Melbourne Storm chairman Matt Tripp said it was an unfortunate misunderstanding.

Mr Tripp said the board had only approved Welcome to Country ceremonies for multicultural and Indigenous rounds, not Anzac Day.

‘We weren’t sure it was happening in this game, and when we asked the question, there was a bit of confusion,’ Tripp told The Sydney Morning Herald.

Melbourne Storm issued a public statement blaming a ‘miscommunication’ for the cancellation.

‘There was a miscommunication of expectations regarding the use [of] Welcome to Country at Melbourne Storm events throughout the year,’ the club said.

The Storm confirmed they intend to continue Welcome to Country ceremonies during multicultural and Indigenous rounds.

The club also displayed an Acknowledgement of Country message on the big screens during the Anzac ceremony.