Motorsport Australia has today further highlighted its ongoing commitment to social and cultural unity and cohesion, permanently raising the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags at its Melbourne headquarters.

A Welcome To Country and Smoking Ceremony to commemorate the occasion was conducted by Aboriginal elder, Aunty Dianne Kerr, an Indigenous Australian Wurundjeri Elder who identifies with the Ganun Willam Balak clan.

Motorsport Australia House, in Canterbury, sits on the land of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people.

The flags will fly next to the Australian and FIA flags.

Motorsport Australia’s Melbourne staff attended, with members of the organisation’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee raising the flags following the Welcome To Country.

Victorian-resident Directors, Vice President Margot Foster AM and Victorian State Council Elected Director Norman Gowers were also present.

Motorsport Australia CEO Eugene Arocca had the privilege of being part of the event and said the ceremony and flag raising was an important step in the organisation’s history.

“Today’s flag raising highlights Motorsport Australia’s commitment to being a welcoming and supportive national sporting body for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community,” Arocca said.

“This is an important milestone for our organisation, but it is only one step of many in our continued diversity and inclusion journey.

“Motorsport is for everyone, no matter their cultural and ethnic background, religion, gender or ability. Today’s ceremony, conducted by Aunty Di, a Wurundjeri Elder, highlights the important steps we are taking to make sure we live these values in everything we do.”



Motorsport Australia Vice President Margot Foster said it was an honour to be part of the day.

“It’s a proud day for Motorsport Australia,” Margot said.

“On behalf of the Board and all our members, we thank Aunty Di for being with us today and the Welcome To Country she proudly delivered.

“This significant step highlights our continued commitment to being a welcoming sport and organisation. We look forward to continuing to develop initiatives to make motorsport even more inclusive and representative of the whole of the Australian community in the years ahead.

“In 2022, Motorsport Australia will deliver its first Reconciliation Action Plan and also take other significant steps as part of our diversity and inclusion program, allowing more people to enjoy more motorsport more often.”