Welcome to Country at NRL Grand Final receives loud cheer from footy fans to line: ‘Was, is, always will be Aboriginal land’
The NRL put on a subdued version of the Welcome to Country ceremony at the 2023 Grand Final and the packed crowd at Accor Stadium responded with rapturous applause – with one statement in particular resonating with football fans.
There were no traditional dancers, no smoking ceremony and no political statements that have been present at Welcome to Country ceremonies in the past.
Instead, Uncle Allan Madden gave a short, heartfelt welcome to people from all backgrounds, which was warmly received by the audience and many viewers at home.
There were no theatrical political statements during the Welcome to Country at the NRL Grand Final, just a warm and sincere welcome to all
The crowd responded positively to the Welcome to Country ceremony, with the packed house applauding the phrase ‘was, is and always will be Aboriginal country’.
Welcome to Country ceremonies in the past have involved traditional entertainment, but this was a simple statement that resonated with the audience
“I would like to acknowledge our First Nations and Traditional Owners of the lands you may come from and pay my respects to all Aboriginal elders, all elders, past and present
“To all Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander brothers and sisters, whatever Aboriginal or island nation you come from, welcome to Wann-gal.
“And to all our non-Indigenous brothers and sisters here tonight, a very warm and sincere welcome to Wann-gal.
“No matter where you come from, whether it’s across the sea, across the state or across town, once again, I welcome you warmly and sincerely to Wann- gal.
But it was the next line that struck a chord with the packed audience and generated a huge response.
“And as I have said many times before, it was, is and always will be Aboriginal land,” he said as cheers rang through the stadium.
While there were a few Welcome to Country detractors on social media voicing their usual disapproval, there were plenty of supporters at home cheering on Uncle Madden’s minimalist, heartfelt ceremony.
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‘Thank you Uncle Allan Madden for welcoming you to Country. Great to hear the respect from the audience too. Lots of cheering and no booing,” one fan wrote.
‘Listening to the NRL welcome to the country. You’d have to be pretty addicted to outrage to find fault with that, I think,” another added.
“I love seeing the racists expose themselves when they cry about being welcomed into the country,” wrote another.
Uncle Allen, a Gadigal man from the Eora nation, began working from the age of fourteen with various organizations, including the Aboriginal Legal Service.
He has served on several boards including the Sydney Foreshore Authority, SBS, Central Coast Aboriginal Heritage, and is currently a member of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Local Council.
In addition to his extensive work history, Uncle Allen has been involved in numerous television shows such as Redfern Now and First Australian, and is a family man with ten children.