Bert Mason started umpiring with the BUA in 1979 as a Goal Umpire and continued right through until 2008, when he hung the flags up. He has umpired 931 games for the BUA. In 1985 he was a member of the general committee and in 2004 he was awarded life membership for his service to the BUA. He has a very long list of achievements. In 1984 and 1987 he umpired VFL senior practice games and in 1989 he umpired a VFL reserves practice game. In 1991 he umpired an interleague semi final. In the years 1983, 1984, 1986, 1989 and 1991 he waved the flags in Bendigo Senior Interleague games. In 2000 and 2003 he umpired in a Loddon Valley Football League senior interleague clash. In 1983, 1987 and 1989 he umpired the BFL senior’s grand final. In 1979 he umpired the Golden City Senior Grand Final. In the years 1982, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991 and 2004 he umpired the Loddon Valley seniors Grand Final. Between 1979 and 2006 he has umpired a total of 152 finals games (59 senior, 35 reserves and 58 under age). Between 1979 and 2007 he umpired a total of 931 games (519 senior, 156 reserves and 256 under age games). Below Bert describes his fondest memories “I enjoyed my first senior Loddon Valley Grand Final in 1982 at Calivil when a Serpentine forward hit the goal post with a kick after the siren to win over Bridgewater; the scores were level on the siren.
My first senior Bendigo Grand Final was in 1983 when Greg Williams played for Golden Square. They lost to Sandhurst by 7 points. My fellow goal umpire Jim Miller needed a smoke afterwards, as it was a point the difference for the last five minutes with a goal kicked after the siren. Those were the days of live telecasts, huge flogger streamers on the fence behind the goals and police horse escorts.
I remember a thirds game at Kangaroo Flat when young kids threw lighted penny crackers (fireworks) under your feet. But I kept moving so they got tired of it after about three. Umpire interchanges in the past have been notable. One I wnto to Yarraville, another to Worrineen when Carl Ditterich coached. I can remember in 1971 and 1983 rounds were not played due to waterlogged grounds and in 2004 at Kyneton I umpired in heavy snow. Wallowing in knee-deep water (Eaglehawk), losing a boot in the mud (QEO) and standing in heavy hail and strong wind (Inglewood) are not conditions our younger umpires have seen.
A trip in the minibus or Pace’s Bus that took us on the Loddon Valley finals was a ride enjoyed by all. Grand Final day was ‘all day and all night’. One trip in 1986 for an Ararat & District Semi Final was memorable. We umpired at the Stawell Gift ground then stopped at Ararat for tea. A drunk crossing the road stumbled headfirst into the back of the bus. My fellow goal umpire (Geoff Browning) on a guided tour of the hotel’s cellar decided the kangaroo suit fitted him and gave a show of note. A guy in the bar offered $50 for our BUA jumper. Tim Donnelly drove the bus home in the pouring rain. I miss the after match drinks and then further drinks and fellowship at the pub afterwards. Stalwards as Kevin Theis, John Waterson, Rob Barrow, Barry Murton, Geoff Browning and Stan Cue. In later years John Hagley, Ed Stockwell and Kevin Monk were all there to muse over the day. Taking the car and drink driving laws have put a stop to that. Morrie McDonald’s comment is true ‘You stand there in the rain and say you’ll never do it again’, but you still turn up the next Saturday”.
Bert Mason started umpiring with the BUA in 1979 as a Goal Umpire and continued right through until 2008, when he hung the flags up. He has umpired 931 games for the BUA. In 1985 he was a member of the general committee and in 2004 he was awarded life membership for his service to the BUA. He has a very long list of achievements. In 1984 and 1987 he umpired VFL senior practice games and in 1989 he umpired a VFL reserves practice game. In 1991 he umpired an interleague semi final. In the years 1983, 1984, 1986, 1989 and 1991 he waved the flags in Bendigo Senior Interleague games. In 2000 and 2003 he umpired in a Loddon Valley Football League senior interleague clash. In 1983, 1987 and 1989 he umpired the BFL senior’s grand final. In 1979 he umpired the Golden City Senior Grand Final. In the years 1982, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991 and 2004 he umpired the Loddon Valley seniors Grand Final. Between 1979 and 2006 he has umpired a total of 152 finals games (59 senior, 35 reserves and 58 under age). Between 1979 and 2007 he umpired a total of 931 games (519 senior, 156 reserves and 256 under age games). Below Bert describes his fondest memories “I enjoyed my first senior Loddon Valley Grand Final in 1982 at Calivil when a Serpentine forward hit the goal post with a kick after the siren to win over Bridgewater; the scores were level on the siren.
My first senior Bendigo Grand Final was in 1983 when Greg Williams played for Golden Square. They lost to Sandhurst by 7 points. My fellow goal umpire Jim Miller needed a smoke afterwards, as it was a point the difference for the last five minutes with a goal kicked after the siren. Those were the days of live telecasts, huge flogger streamers on the fence behind the goals and police horse escorts.
I remember a thirds game at Kangaroo Flat when young kids threw lighted penny crackers (fireworks) under your feet. But I kept moving so they got tired of it after about three. Umpire interchanges in the past have been notable. One I wnto to Yarraville, another to Worrineen when Carl Ditterich coached. I can remember in 1971 and 1983 rounds were not played due to waterlogged grounds and in 2004 at Kyneton I umpired in heavy snow. Wallowing in knee-deep water (Eaglehawk), losing a boot in the mud (QEO) and standing in heavy hail and strong wind (Inglewood) are not conditions our younger umpires have seen.
A trip in the minibus or Pace’s Bus that took us on the Loddon Valley finals was a ride enjoyed by all. Grand Final day was ‘all day and all night’. One trip in 1986 for an Ararat & District Semi Final was memorable. We umpired at the Stawell Gift ground then stopped at Ararat for tea. A drunk crossing the road stumbled headfirst into the back of the bus. My fellow goal umpire (Geoff Browning) on a guided tour of the hotel’s cellar decided the kangaroo suit fitted him and gave a show of note. A guy in the bar offered $50 for our BUA jumper. Tim Donnelly drove the bus home in the pouring rain. I miss the after match drinks and then further drinks and fellowship at the pub afterwards. Stalwards as Kevin Theis, John Waterson, Rob Barrow, Barry Murton, Geoff Browning and Stan Cue. In later years John Hagley, Ed Stockwell and Kevin Monk were all there to muse over the day. Taking the car and drink driving laws have put a stop to that. Morrie McDonald’s comment is true ‘You stand there in the rain and say you’ll never do it again’, but you still turn up the next Saturday”.