A young woman wonders why she is forced to participate in a welcome to country before every Pilates class.
Triple M producer Loren Barry said she didn’t understand why her workout sessions had to start with the ceremony.
Barry was quick to point out that she supported welcoming the country, but questioned its frequency.
“I’m all for welcoming the country,” he said.
“But I think when you have the same people in classes every day, you’re welcome.”
2GB presenter Ben Fordham was left stunned after hearing their story on Friday, arguing they had “lost all meaning”.
“I am convinced that in a few years organizations will abandon this tradition because they have hit it so hard that it has lost all meaning,” he said.
‘Now, if it’s the first day of parliament of the year, welcome it.
Radio producer Loren Barry said she is “all for welcoming countries” but didn’t understand why a Pilates class needed one.
“I think when you have the same people in classes every day, you’re welcome,” he said.
‘If you have a special meeting, sure, go ahead and say welcome.
‘But don’t we need every speech to have one, don’t we need a welcome at the start of a Zoom meeting and a welcome to the country at the start of a Pilates class? Well, that’s just strange.
Fordham argued that Australians should not be afraid to share their thoughts on the ceremonies.
“We should be allowed to say it, the obsession with foster care has become something of an open joke,” he said.
“And, let’s be fair, sometimes it’s a little complicated.”
His comments come as the frequency of Welcome to Country ceremonies comes into focus.
Two homecoming ceremonies were held at separate AFL games throughout September, and both divided fans.
The first was awarded in the GWS Giants and Brisbane Lions semi-final on September 14, while the second was awarded in the Sydney Swans and Brisbane Lions Grand Final on Saturday.
Uncle Colin Hunter hosted the ceremony at the MCG over the weekend with most fans applauding, although boos were also heard.
Fordham revealed his vehement distaste for the practices, saying they “suck the tension out of the air.”
Uncle Colin Hunter’s welcome to the AFL Grand Final was widely praised, but Ben Fordham said the practice “kills the mood” at sporting events.
“It’s a mood killer,” he said.
“The players run out onto the field, the crowd roars, tension fills the stadium and then you know what happens, we’ve all seen it, you make a speech that has nothing to do with football.”
“All it does is highlight a difference instead of saying we’re all a mob in football,” he said.
AFL boss Andrew Dillon has promised homecoming ceremonies are here to stay.
‘We will continue doing it, Welcome to the Homeland is for everyone,’ he stated.
‘We are an inclusive sport and we believe it sets the tone for the game. “It serves the game well, so we’ll continue to do it.”
