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With respect to Wurundjeri Elder and Children’s Ground patron Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin, and Bunurong and Gunditjmara Elder Uncle Mark Brown, we condemn the racist and harmful events during ANZAC Day commemorations in Melbourne. We thank them both for their strength and leadership.
The cancellation of Aunty Joy’s Welcome to Country at the Melbourne Storm ANZAC Day match — and the aggression and disrespect shown to Uncle Mark Brown during his Welcome to Country at the dawn service — have caused profound hurt, not just to these Elders and leaders, but to all First Nations people and communities across Australia. We stand together to remember those who have fought for this country, First Nations and non-First Nations people, across frontier and global wars. We pay our respects and remember them.
Welcome to Country is a ceremony and customary law that has long been practiced on our lands, between clans, Nations and communities recognising authority and responsibility and upholding the principles of respect, peace and care. It is a sovereign and enduring ceremony that invites all people who visit, live, or gather on Country to be part of a respectful and shared connection and responsibility to the land and its First Peoples.
It is an act of generosity, offering a spiritual and cultural embrace to everyone and acknowledging the ancient and unbroken custodianship of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Welcome to Country is also a celebration: it honours the strength, resilience, and continuing cultures of First Nations people, while also offering a moment for all Australians to come together in recognition, respect, and unity. It is a gift that strengthens our collective identity and encourages all who walk on this land to do so with care and understanding.
Now more than ever — in these times of uncertainty and challenge — it is essential to bring people together, to nurture community, and to honour the enduring wisdom of First Nations peoples. As respect for First Nations cultural authority continues to be questioned and undermined, we must stand firm in protecting and upholding these sacred practices. Welcome to Country is not optional, political, or divisive. It is law. It is ceremony. It is an act of deep respect and inclusion — one that should sit at the heart of our national identity and unite us all.
Children’s Ground stands firm in the belief that recognising and celebrating the enduring sovereignty and culture of First Nations people through Welcome to Country enriches us all. It is a reminder of the shared future we must build — one founded on truth, respect, and pride in the world’s oldest living cultures.
We pay deep respect to Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin, a leader of wisdom, strength, and generosity. We are proud to have her as Children’s Ground’s patron and ambassador. We acknowledge her lifelong commitment to nurturing cultural pride, safety, and connection, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to Aunty Joy and to all Elders who uphold the spirit of Country, share their knowledge with dignity, and create safe pathways for all who walk on their ancestral lands.
We call on all Australians to deepen their understanding of the meaning and significance of Welcome to Country ceremonies. Respecting these ancient traditions is fundamental to reconciliation and healing, and to building a future that embraces the strength, knowledge, and leadership of First Nations peoples.
Children's Ground — Posted on 29 Apr 2025
