27 August - Victorian Amateur Football Association

UMPIRESNIGHT OF NIGHTSThe VAFAUA’s big Pre-finals dinner was heldlast Monday night at the MCG Members’ DiningRoom and once again was a resounding success.To attain a record crowd of over 350 members andguests was a sensational effort by our PresidentLuke Holmes and his band of assistants. Thecrowd was entertained by former Richmond greatin Matthew Richardson.As well as the guest speaker being a highlight, ourmajor awards for 2011 were presented as follows:Golden Whistle Award (provided by the AFL andis presented as an encouragement award to anumpire who is identified as having the potential toumpire at the highest level.) – Andrew Heffernan.Most Improved Field Umpire – Andrew Green.Most Improved Boundary Umpire – RobertHamilton.Most Improved Goal Umpire – Matt Dervan.Young Achiever Award (presented to an umpireunder the age of 20 who regularly attends trainingand meetings, shows improvement throughoutthe year and mixes well with the umpiring group.)– Kit Harvey.Best First Year Umpire (presented to a first yearumpire who has natural umpiring ability, a desireto learn and a commitment to the umpiringgroup.) – Josh Prince.Andy Carrick Award (presented to a member ofthe VAFA Umpires Association who does not reachthe higher sections but still performs admirablyeach week throughout the season in the spirit ofthe late and great loveable rogue Andy Carrick) –Anthony Simpson.Bob Dunstan Award (This award is named inhonour of Mr Robert Dunstan OAM who is a LifeMember of the VAFA Umpires Association andumpired over 800 games in the VAFA. The awardis presented to a member of the VAFA UmpiresAssociation who provides exceptional service tothe Association – Sean Scully senior .Ten Year Service Awards – Luke Holmes, RobParry & Grant Wardrop.This year we had no nominations for LifeMembership.Thank to St.Bedes/Mentone Tigers Luke WintleSteve McCarthy & Cam Davidson& Jack Hellier, along with Uni Blues Jack Wattsand Collegians Shura Taft for their fantasicallyentertaining interviews.Once again, a fantastic night was had by all.Way Out WestOur piece on the VAFAUA’s budding rock star JeffMann was met with some interest and amusementfrom an anonymous Western Australian readerlast week who contacted us with a couple of littlepearlers.Earlier this year a few of the WAFL umps travelledto Victoria for the weekend and bumped intoManny busking at Flinders Street Station. Hehas unique ways to say he’s playing in front of a bigcrowd. 1) Turn up where there is already a crowdand just start playing. 2) Tell people they canget out of a cold night’s training if they turn up!But I suppose you have to give him credit. A coupleof years’ back he won an award with the WAFL andgave possibly the worst speech ever seen. He wasa bumbling, nervous wreck. Then he took a publicspeaking course and now he’s on stage singing.Great turnaround!And in relation to one of our other new arrivalsfrom the west, is it true that (continuing in thetrain stations theme), Greg Rolfe proposed to hisnow wife at the train station on the way to a FooFighter’s concert! It’s still one of the more bizarrestories our contact has heard.Thanks to the VolunteersAs the year comes to a close, it’s now time forthose many, many club volunteers to put their feetup and have a well-earned rest. We’d especiallylike to acknowledge those who go out of theirway to look after the visiting umpires each week.All clubs have these great people and there aretoo many to mention, but we’d like to pass onspecial thanks to a man who has done this role forlonger than anyone can remember – Lou Belli atAquinas. Lou makes all visitors to the club verywelcome before and after the game and the workhe does behind the scenes is immeasurable. Lou,we appreciate you! And all the others out therejust like you. Was fantastic to see some of you atlast Monday’s dinner.58 THE AMATEUR FOOTBALLER 2011“Umpiring is Everyone’s Business”