An Indigenous version of the national anthem could become a mainstay at Australian sporting events after Olivia Fox’s stirring rendition before the Wallabies’ year-ending Test match captured the hearts of the country.
The Newtown High School of the Performing Arts student sent social media into overdrive after singing the anthem in Eora language, along with all 23 Wallabies who revealed they rehearsed all week in the lead-up.
They also belted out Advance Australia Fair in English on Saturday night.
Australia captain Michael Hooper, who had to settle for a second straight draw with Argentina, said the Wallabies were proud to become the first sporting team to sing the Indigenous version.
Rugby Australia instigated the move to coincide with the side’s wearing of the First Nations jersey.
“We were practising (the Eora version) during the week and our guys were – there was never a question – proud to have the opportunity to do it,” Hooper said.
“I think it sounded pretty good, too.
“Wearing an Indigenous jersey and singing that in Aboriginal and then English, it was great and it was great to be a part of.”
Fox has previously delivered the Indigenous version of the anthem at Randwick’s Sydney club rugby matches and is fast becoming a national icon.
Netballer Kim Green claimed the performance was “the BEST Australian sporting moment I have ever seen” while former Wallabies star Matt Giteau – married to AFL star Lance Franklin’s sister Bianca – endorsed Rugby Australia’s groundbreaking initiative.
“Special moment in Australian sport – well done,” Giteau tweeted.
Calls are already growing for the Indigenous version to become permanent, with Rugby Australia understood to be considering the move after Saturday night’s rousing success.
Wallabies playmaker James O’Connor said he “one hundred per cent” supported the version being performed more and more at events around the country.
“Aboriginal people are one of the oldest civilisations and it’s a part of us,” he said.
O’Connor said Wallabies coach Dave Rennie, of Cook Islands heritage, deserved huge credit for instilling a fresh culture within the group since officially taking the reins in June.
“A huge part of what Dave’s brought in is we’re coming back to our roots. We’ve been inclusive,” O’Connor said.
“We’ve got so many nationalities in this group.
“We’ve sung a lot. We’ve literally brought the group together by singing a Tongan song, a Fijian song, a Samoan song, a Cook Islands song, a Maori song.
“And now we’ve got the Aboriginal one and we could feel it this week and we all put in a huge effort.
“We didn’t know it was coming until Monday.
“We put a lot of time into learning the words and buying in to it because we feel it’s a huge part of our history and our culture and we want to represent.”
Rob9
Roar Guru
You are aware the words are only indigenous to the part of the country that the game was played at on Saturday night? May be there are First Nations people that have no interest in learning another indigenous language or having another indigenous language represent them at a national level. There are other more meaningful and less problematic ways of acknowledging and respecting our First Nations culture.
Rob9
Roar Guru
Where’s the irony in that? Please do share
Ben
Guest
Irony. Change young to one but sing it in english, our national language.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Rugby is a game to be enjoyed by all regardless of race, creed, colour, religion or sexuality. The anthem is no different. My sentiments exactly. Please do keep following me around and making baseless claims that I think differently though.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Nah. It’s just clear that as only one person took issue with the comments, you bringing them up shows you’re Realist.
GoldenGoose
Guest
Sorry Jeznez but you are mistaking me for someone else as this isn’t the post referenced. I guess it does go to show I wasn’t the only one offended by your previous remarks. Anyway let’s leave it at that. Rugby is a game to be enjoyed by all regardless of race, creed, colour, religion or sexuality. The anthem is no different.
Wigeye
Guest
Copy that hika :happy: They were surely belting it out the front row were and all were singing or mouthing it. Not an issue, the jerseys again I like them perhaps they can be permanent.
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
BB, All good, we can agree to disagree on the anthem/ songs but agree I look forward to the Wallabies improving too. (Note: don't follow the Waratahs next season it's going to be a very very difficult season.)
Rob9
Roar Guru
Change the lyrics (young to one). Sing it in English (our national language). Get players doing ball handling/security drills under sprinklers instead of sitting in front of PowerPoints learning a new language.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
If you think the singing of the national anthem divides us, then you must really not like the anthem. I'd prefer a different anthem, but as far as renditions of the current anthem go, this was a good one. And in what way were you "ambushed"? It wasn't an attack on you or anyone else. Sharing things brings people together, like breaking bread together i.e. sharing a meal. The anthem was a good thing. Now, the awful rugby in the first half is something to complain about, and even in that we are drawn together.
Tony
Roar Guru
Well that's a start but you'll need to bring a few mates with you.
Adam
Roar Guru
Mate, all we need is me to start playing in the local competition. I'll be good to go by 2023!
HiKa
Roar Rookie
I very much liked the anthem as it was performed on Saturday night, but comparisons with NZ's situation don't really hold up. The tricky bit is that we didn't hear THE indigenous version. It was AN indigenous version. Australia's first peoples (note that is plural) have diverse languages, so their never will be a single indigenous version.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Not in the slightest GG/Realist. I thought it was great and a long overdue step to do more to acknowledge our Indigenous Australians. I know some people like Latrell Mitchell don't think it went far enough with the English lyric "young" in particular remaining offensive but who found the Eora part a problem? Remind me again what was malicious about, "On Beale, well he had his ups and downs but what a joy to watch when he was on song and across 148 games he had more on than off. Such a massive contributor to NSW rugby over so many years. Here's the article you where you started this campaign accusing me of racism, as always - please point out my problematic words. I'm still waiting, despite your many, many posts I remain none the wiser. https://www.theroar.com.au/2020/06/22/beale-exits-waratahs/
GoldenGoose
Guest
“Tongue-in-cheek” comment Jeznez? After the malicious send-off you gave one of Australian Rugby’s greatest servants Kurtley Beale, your comment doesn’t seem particularly sincere. I assume you were aware that many of our first peoples found it somewhat offensive?
Tony
Roar Guru
Hugh, I'm happy to have my errors pointed out. I make plenty. What frustrates me though, as a long time follower of Rugby, is the fact that Australia has gone so far backwards and doesn't seem to be clawing their way back. I don't know what the immediate answer is, but I feel that investing in symbolic gestures isn't helping, and in fact may make the team look less credible.
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
BB, you just make my afternoon, as noted by others the men’s World Cup is in 2023. Unless you mean the women’s World Cup that is on next year which will be a cracking tournament in NZ but I think we will struggle there we havent had any Test matches this year with Covid One of the challenges rugby has is getting the available talent in competition with the very big and strong domestic codes NRL and AFL – no other country has that competition for talent and audience. But that's life - not an excuse just a fact. Yep need to work on the basic skills too, no doubt we have deficiencies but also have to work on lineouts, scrums, restarts, mauls, tackle height etc. I don’t want to get into a League v Rugby debate but rugby is a lot more complicated and technical than League even more so these days with the tackle requirements to keep away from the head. Have to be realistic, getting there hopefully in 2 years – there is a lot of strong rugby competition globally, the French team coming out next year is going to be a very, very good side. In saying that we have a good young group developing hopefully we can keep them here in Oz and get a few wins.
Tony
Roar Guru
Yes Adam, my error there. Should have google/checked before posting. I'm happy to stand by the main thrust of my comments, though, which is that the Wallabies need to focus on the important stuff and forget about the PC window dressing. I'd be surprised if many of the current squad will be around for the next World Cup based on what I saw over the last month.
Adam
Roar Guru
BB, love your work normally. But the World Cup is in 2023 and we won the Bled in 2002.
jeznez
Roar Guru
9 months away? Is it 2023 already? Is COVID over? Disappointing to hear we are still only ranked 6th in 2023 after Rennie’s had three years in charge. Hang on, is he still in charge? What else is happening in the future Baz?