Wurundjeri women's dance group Djirri Djirri and Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin AO have issued a joint statement in the wake of the Melbourne Storm's last-minute axing of a Welcome to Country at an NRL ANZAC Day fixture.
"We Djirri Djirri were invited to dance alongside our Mäori Whanau Ngã Matai Púrua Kapa Haka after Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin's Welcome to Country," they said on Saturday evening.
"We arrived at 2:30pm and have been in and out of the change room to rehearse, it has been raining all day and we have multiple babies and kids with us waiting in the rain.
"After our final rehearsal we were approached by Melbourne Storm CEO Justin Rodski saying they are so grateful to have us all dancing together, but tonight the Board doesn't feel comfortable having a Welcome to Country because of what happened in regards to the booing of Uncle Mark Brown at the ANZAC Dawn Service. They were also 'happy' for us to still dance to represent the "Welcome" but we were in shock and disbelief. Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin AO, a senior Wurundjeri Elder, was told she could not do a Welcome on her own Country, which devastated here as she wanted to honour her father who fought for Australia in World War 1."
The dancers concluded the clear choice in light of the decision was to cancel their planned performance in solidarity.
"We had a yarn earlier amongst ourselves about staying strong and brave today as it is a lot, to be Blak on our own Country. We spoke with Justin Rodski and executives with all of us. They came back after that discussion and apologised, but after reconsidering we all came to the decision to boycott," the statement reads.
"We strongly regard this as being totally tokenistic and goes completely against their journey of reconciliation and we feel very disrespected. We stand with and follow the directions of our staunch Elders.
"What we do isn't a performance, it's cultural ceremony and protocol. we strongly feel this action taken by Melbourne Storm was unnecessary and has caused us hurt and disbelief in what we thought was a good relationship."
Djirri Djirri said what should have been a proud occasion had caused grief.
"We wanted to be commemorating today with pride, but instead it was pain. Aunty Joy stayed at AAMI Park for the whole of the ceremony for the ANZAC's, wearing proudly her father's medals and honouring all the service men and women who fought for our country," they said.
The dance group noted that Aunty Joy's father was Sapper James Henry Wandin, 1st Division Signal Company Australian Imperial Forces 1917-1919.
"This should be a time for us all to stand together with remembrance and respect," they said.
"Huge ngoon godjin (thank you in the Woi-wurrung language) to our Mäori Whanau Ngã Matai Púrua Kapa Haka for standing with us in solidarity. We have to listen to our murrup (spirit), this is not right. Shame."
