‘You’ve made so many of us so proud’: Today presenter Brooke Boney congratulates Wiradjuri woman Olivia Fox for indigenous rendition of national anthem at Tri Nations game
- Indigenous rendition of Advance Australia Far left rugby fans with goosebumps at the Tri Nations rugby union game on Saturday night
- Wiradjuri woman Olivia Fox sung the Australian anthem in the Eora language
- Every player from the Wallabies learned the words to the indigenous verse
Wiradjuri woman Olivia Fox sung the Australian anthem in the indigenous Eora language before the Tri Nations rugby union game between the Wallabies and Argentina on Saturday night.
And on Monday, Today’s Entertainment Reporter and proud Gamilaroi Gomeroi woman, Brooke Boney, congratulated the performer on Nine’s program.
Brooke, and Today’s fill-in hosts, welcomed Olivia to the show with a round of applause, adding: ‘You’ve made so many of us so proud! I shared the clip over the weekend and people sent back huge reactions.’
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‘You’ve made so many of us so proud’: Today’s Brooke Boney (right) congratulated Wiradjuri woman Olivia Fox (left) on Monday for her indigenous rendition of national anthem at Tri Nations game on Saturday night
The indigenous rendition of Advance Australia Fair was not only performed by Olivia, but also the entire Wallabies team.
Brooke added: ‘One of the things that made me so emotional was seeing all of the players behind you singing along as well.’
Olivia thanked Brooke for her kind words and claimed the experience was both ’emotional’ and ‘amazing’.
‘Singing it loud and proud, that’s what I wanted to do. To get the message across to unite as one’: Olivia wad overjoyed by the positive response and was blown away by how eager the Wallabies team was to learn the indigenous verse
Proud Wiradjuri woman Olivia Fox sung the Australian anthem in the Indigenous Eora language before the Tri Nations rugby union game between the Wallabies and Argentina on Saturday night
‘Just standing there knowing how I am proud to be of Indigenous heritage and singing it feeling so proud about myself and my culture. Singing it loud and proud, that’s what I wanted to do. To get the message across to unite as one,’ she explained.
Olivia also confirmed she attended singing practice sessions with the Wallabies players to ensure they knew all the words for the performance.
‘It made me so proud to know that they wanted to get involved so much and how much they cared about the indigenous language and they were so interested in learning it and asking me questions. It was honestly amazing,’ she said.
‘It didn’t feel like I was singing it by myself – I could feel them behind me.’
Brooke later posted a tribute to the singer on her Instagram, writing: ‘Could not be prouder of this young woman… She said she knew there’d be a bit of pushback but she did it anyway because she’s proud of her heritage and she wanted it to be a unifying moment. @oliviajadefox you little legend.’
Respect: Brooke (left) said she was very proud of the highschool student for taking her heritage seriously and being part of a historic and unifying moment
Olivia, from Newtown High School of the Performing Arts in Sydney’s inner west, has previously been involved in indigenous culture alongside the Wallabies.
She performed the national anthem in the Eora language during the unveiling of the First Nations jersey.
Controversy has surrounded the Australian national anthem with many people calling for it to be changed as they feel it is not inclusive to Indigenous Australians.
When Kiwi sports teams take the field both the English and Maori versions of the New Zealand anthem is performed.
Olivia, from Newtown High School of the Performing Arts in Sydney’s inner west, has previously been involved in indigenous culture alongside the Wallabies