An Aboriginal woman’s Welcome to Country at the 2024 NRL Grand Final has left fans divided – some praising its inclusive message but other social media commentators attacking the elder’s appearance.
Indigenous elder Aunty Julie Jones and proud Dharug woman delivered the ceremony on Sunday evening as the Penrith Panthers took on the Melbourne Storm at Accor Stadium.
‘I’d like to pay my respects to my ancestors an elders and extend that respect to everybody present here to night,’ she said.
‘This is our traditional lands. Traditional country of our mothers, fathers, grandparents, and ancestors who have walked sung and danced this land since the beginning of our time here.
‘Thank you for walking with us and strengthening the Spirit of country. On behalf of the Spirit of country.
‘On behalf of the Wangal people and the wider Dharug community, thank you for bringing your hearts spirit and stories an embedding them here on this beautiful country we are so honoured to share with everyone who calls her home.
‘Thank you. Welcome. Have an amazing night.’
The crowd gave the ceremony polite applause and there were many positive comments online.
‘Well, that was one of the better Welcome to Countries I have heard,’ a footy fan said.
‘Beautiful Welcome to Country at the Grand Final,’ added another.
Aunty Julie Jones delivered the Welcome to Country at the NRL Grand Final 2024
The large crowd applauded the ceremony but some slammed it on social media
But some other footy fans slammed the ceremony and attacked the Indigenous elder for her appearance.
‘Here is Aboriginal Aunty Julie doing Welcome to Country at the NRL Grand Final. Pretty white for an Aboriginal. How much was she paid for this farce?’ asked one fan.
‘Blonde, white person giving a Welcome to Country. Joke’s over can we move on from this?’ questioned another.
‘Welcome to Country from the whitest person in the stadium,’ another fan posted. Several more comments continued in this vein.
The Indigenous Elder has previously delivered Welcome to Country ceremonies at other sporting events – and was at the centre of a firestorm when Australia took on Ireland at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Channel Seven commentators spoke over her performance, and the network cut to a deodorant ad after discussing the importance of the ceremonies on air.
Welcome to Country has become a divisive issue in recent years, with a ceremony performed at the recent AFL preliminary finals attracting backlash.
Sydney’s Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council cultural educator Brendan Kerin attracted backlash after saying the ceremonies were ‘not for white people’.
It soon became one of the most trending topics on social media as Australians expressed their disapproval at Kerin’s comments.
There was further criticism at the AFL Grand Final despite a relatively benign address by Uncle Colin Hunter at the decider between the Sydney Swans and Brisbane Lions.
His ceremony attracted a huge round of applause, but there were pockets of boos at the MCG as well.
‘Performing a welcome to country at the AFL #grandfinal is exactly how you further divide Australians at an event that should be bringing people together,’ one viewer said.
It is an issue that has extended outside of sport, with Channel Nine’s Married At First Sight star Dean Wells recently taking exception to a Welcome to Country address at the conclusion of a Jetstar domestic flight.
‘I don’t need to be “welcome”‘ to my own country,’ he fumed.
Uncle Colin Hunter gave a measured Welcome to Country at the AFL Grand Final but still attracted booing and online criticism
Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price says Australia has become saturated with Welcome to Country ceremonies
Another Aussie said they were shocked that a Welcome to Country ceremony had been booked before their pilates lesson.
‘I’m all for the Welcome to Country,’ she said.
‘But I think that, when you’ve got the same people in the classes everyday, you’ve been welcomed.’
It has led many to question whether Welcome to Country ceremonies were being overused.
Indigenous Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price said Australia was ‘saturated’ with it, which was ‘removing the sacredness of certain traditional culture and practices’.
‘It’s just become almost like a throwaway line. We don’t want to see all these symbolic gestures. We want to see real action,’ she said.
