Age may just be a number to many, but it holds a special significance for seven members of the Gippsland Umpires Association this weekend.
Field umpires Peter Heywood, John Brookes and Trevor Hobson, boundary umpires Geoff Legge and Merv Pentland and goal umpires Bruce Pratt and Jeff Bell are aged between 59 and 62 years, with an average age of 60 years.
The super septet has been appointed to the senior match between Poowong and Lang Lang on Saturday in a unique and fitting celebration of the association’s 60th anniversary.
GUA development coach and former president Chris Behrendorff came up with the suggestion and the association’s committee of management jumped at it.
“We thought it was a great idea and a good way to generate some publicity,” COM member Jamie Warden said.
“We’ll present the team at the dinner on Saturday night and hopefully it will get a bit of a laugh as well.”
Anyone concerned about the fitness of the panel can be reassured with the knowledge that experienced emergencies Tom Morrison (59) and Billy Ross (77) are waiting in the wings if required, while 14-year-old Riley Feil will provide any additional energy needed as the third boundary umpire on the day – even if he does drop the average age below the magic number.
Following a typical Saturday providing umpires to the Ellinbank and District, West Gippsland and Gippsland leagues, the association will gather at the Warragul Downtowner for a night of revelry and reminiscing, with more than 160 people earmarked to attend.
The GUA was borne out of the West Gippsland Umpires Association, which was formed in mid-1959, making the back half of this year the beginning of its 60th year of fielding umpires in Australian rules football games in Gippsland.
Plenty has changed in that time, with senior football now a major part of the GUA’s service – a role once upon a time filled by umpires from the VFL – and gender balance another area in which the association had evolved, with a notable female contingent among today’s 120 or so active members.
“The doors have always been open to people from all walks of life and it has always had a good family friendly environment,” Warden said.
“We’re now getting some more female umpires filter through the system and last year we had our first female umpire in a senior grand final with Megan Vistarini in goals which was great.”
The big change took place in 1984-85, when the Bass Valley Football League approached the WGUA to supply umpires.
Warden, who joined the GUA 14 years ago and learned the trade from the likes of Gavin Dore, Harold Mitchell, Laurie Milner and Shane Morgan, said while its identity may have changed in a bid to better reflect the region the association covered, much of the membership remained the same.
He said formalities would be kept to a minimum to allow plenty of time for guests to catch up on times old and new.
“A few older members will speak about the footy from the 1980s, ‘90s and 2000s and new life member badges will be presented but otherwise it’s going to be a fairly low-key, social night,” Warden said.
“It’s just a fantastic opportunity to have all our members past and present reunite and celebrate.”
Last Modified on 25/07/2018 17:31