Hawthorn Football Club has appointed a six-person First Nations Advisory Committee to the Board.
The Advisory Committee will include three external members, a current First Nations player and two senior club officials from within the club.
It will comprise of Senior Wurundjeri Elder of the Kulin Nation Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin AO, Dardi Munwurro Founder & former AFL player Alan Thorpe, University of Melbourne Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) Professor Barry Judd, current AFL player Chad Wingard, Hawthorn President Andy Gowers and Hawthorn CEO Ashley Klein.
Chief Executive Ashley Klein said the Advisory Committee will perform a vital role advising the club on First Nations issues.
“Each member of the Advisory Committee has extensive knowledge and expertise in their relevant area,” Klein said.
“We want to be the best we possibly can be in this area and that means we will continue to challenge ourselves for areas of improvement. The Advisory Committee will play a key role in ensuring that is the case.
“We look forward to updating Hawthorn members and fans of our progress as we continue our commitment to reconciliation, listening and learning to ensure we create an inclusive environment for First Nations people.”
Hawthorn President Andy Gowers welcomed all members of the First Nations Advisory Committee.
“On behalf of Hawthorn Football Club, we are delighted to appoint Aunty Joy Murphy AO, Professor Barry Judd, Chad Wingard and Alan Thorpe to join us on the club’s First Nations Advisory Committee,” Gowers said.
“The Advisory Committee’s purpose will be to oversee the implementation of the club’s strategy and related initiatives towards ensuring the club always remains a culturally safe workplace as well as providing independent advice to the board.”
Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin AO has over 30 years of active involvement in Indigenous affairs, including working in the Department of Premier and Cabinet as Executive Officer of the Victorian Aboriginal Interim Committee.
Aunty Joy has had a strong relationship with the Club for many years through providing invaluable cultural advice and regularly performing traditional Welcome to Country ceremonies at many key events on Wurundjeri Country, including Hawthorn games.
Alan Thorpe became a founding member of the much-loved Marngrook Footy Show as well as becoming the Founder of Dardi Munwurro, an organisation that delivers leadership programs to the Victorian Aboriginal community.
Last year, the proud Gunai man was named Victoria’s NAIDOC Male Elder of the Year, having delivered over 20 transformational programs to vulnerable Aboriginal men over more than 25 years.
Coupled with his qualifications in Social Science (Men’s Behaviour Programs), Community Development and Alcohol and Other Drugs, Thorpe has made a significant difference in the lives of the people he has worked with. Thorpe also played 15 games for Sydney and Footscray from 1992-1994.
Professor Barry Judd is currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) and Professor of Indigenous Studies in Melbourne University’s School of Culture and Communication.
In his roles, Prof. Judd plays a crucial role in shaping institutional policy, strategy and guidance on all aspects of Indigenous higher education and is renown for his academic expertise in the study of sports and Australian culture and identity.
Hawthorn forward Chad Wingard is a proud Ngarrindjeri man and has currently played 218 games for the Hawks and Port Adelaide.
He is also a member of the AFLPA Indigenous Advisory Board, a strong advocate for stamping out racism and a role model to many aspiring Indigenous footballers.
Hawthorn Football Club First Nations Advisory Committee:
- Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin AO, Wurundjeri
- Alan Thorpe, Gunai
- Prof. Barry Judd, Pitjantjatjara
- Chad Wingard, Ngarrindjeri & Kaurna
- Hawthorn President Andy Gowers
- Hawthorn CEO Ashley Klein
