Footy Fans Reject State Of Origin’s ‘Wake Up’ Welcome To Country After Indigenous Elder Speaking About Vote Yes In Voice Referendum
- Footy fans blast Welcome to Country from Origin
- Fans say the speech was an “awakened” political statement
- Others thought it was a push to vote yes
Footy fans blasted the Welcome to Country during game one of the State of Origin series in Adelaide after a native elder spoke about the upcoming Voice referendum.
The NRL featured an official Welcome to Country by Uncle Karl Winda Telfer before the national anthem was sung during the series opener on Wednesday night.
Dressed in ceremonial garb, Telfer addressed the crowd, saying, “I am, and we are, the first voice of the first people of the first day.
“Today it’s not about pushing people apart, it’s about the union.
Footy fans blasted the Welcome to Country at Game 1 of the State of Origin series after it was performed by Uncle Karl Winda Telfer (pictured)
Many fans argued that the Welcome to Country should not have called the Voice referendum, insisting that politics should be kept out of the sport (pictured, an Indigenous dance performance before kickoff on Wednesday night)
“In this great game, in this great country, we need to have the conversations leading up to the end of this year.
“And I think we’re mature enough to make the right choice, yes?”
Many footy fans did not appreciate the mention of the Voice to Parliament referendum due to take place later this year, insisting that politics should be kept out of the sport.
“Oh yes – now the welcome to the country is now a push for the yes vote,” one outraged fan wrote. “I turned off the TV. Don’t watch this waking shit. Keep politics out.’
“That so-called Welcome to Country was a political statement that went over like a lead balloon,” replied another.
“Did anyone see the direct political interference at #origin by the aboriginal Welcome to Country guy demanding we vote yes to the vote? Demand that we vote yes,” wrote a third.
“When did ‘Welcome to Country’ become a gratuitous political statement?” said another.
However, other fans who watched Telfer’s speech thought he hit all the right notes.
Other footy fans felt that Uncle Karl Winder Telfer was pushing a yes vote with his speech
What a wonderful welcome to the country. Go to Queensland. Go to the #Voice #Origin’, one fan tweeted.
‘What a wonderful welcome to Country. Proud to be an Aussie,” said one delighted fan.