An Indigenous elder that was due to perform a Welcome to Country at Barack Obama’s Melbourne event, has been left “shocked and distressed” after organisers removed her.
Mr Obama, 61, will appear at John Cain Arena on Wednesday evening as part of a ticketed speaking tour, which kicked off in Sydney on Tuesday.
However the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation were shocked after learning that Traditional Owner Aunty Joy Murphy had been omitted from proceedings. “She was told that she was being ‘too difficult’ and was removed from the event proceedings," the statement said. Aunty Joy - who has previously performed ceremonies for Queen Elizabeth II, Nelson Mandela, and the Dalai Lama – said she has never been treated this way before.“I am 78 years of age. I have never been treated or spoken to in this way in the past.
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