Emily Reichert created history on Saturday 14 April 2007 at Seaman Avenue Oval, Warners Bay, when she became the first female to umpire in the Black Diamond Cup competition.
Aged 15, Emily will also be the youngest person in the history of the Newcastle Australian Rules competition to be a field umpire in senior football.
In the April school holidays, she joined an elite squad set up by the NSW/ACT AFL umpires, to further develop her skills.
It seems that the sky is the limit for the enthusiastic year 10 student at Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College, Fletcher.
Emily admits that her ultimate goal is to graduate to the top level and become the first female to umpire an Australian Football League match.
"I got into it because I didn't like playing," Emily said.
She played under-10s before joining the umpiring ranks at age 11.
"I had been brought up with the game, watching my dad play and then umpire, and I wanted to stay involved," she said.
The Black Diamond AFL competition began in 2000, but officials believe Emily is the only female in the long history of Newcastle AFL to officiate in a senior game.
Emily's father, Roy Reichert, played for Cardiff and began umpiring when he retired. His daughter was much younger.
"I started club umpiring when I was eight, which was just doing the boundary at Cardiff matches," Emily said
"Then I started official field umpiring when I was 11."
"I enjoy doing it and I get less abuse than the other umpires get."
Black Diamond AFL umpires coach Roger Crowhurst said Emily's appointment to senior ranks was reward for her dedication to the job.
"Emily has worked very hard to attain the standard she has achieved," Crowhurst said.
"It demonstrates there is definitely a carer path for both men and women interested in taking up the challenge of umpiring AFL footy."
Emily will debut when she officiates in the game between Warners Bay and Gosford.
Extract written by Neil Goffet, The HERALD, Saturday 14 April 2007
Last Modified on 16/08/2007 09:07