We all like to keep track of what our former umpires are achieving as they move around Australia. The NCCUA came across this article in the Townsville Bulletin regarding our former member, Kim Harding.
A brief recap is that Kim was the first female umpire to field umpire a BDAFL Grand final. This occurred in 2006, when Kim umpired the Under 18’s Grand Final.
It seems that Kim has gone onto bigger and better things by umpiring the A-grade (Sully knows what an A-grade Grand final is, to the rest of us the senior Grand final) this year. Also Kim has taken on the role next year as Vice President and Umpires Advocate for the Townsville Umpires Association.
Congratulations Kim and we wish you all the best in 2009.
This is what the article said in the Townsville Bulletin.
“SHE has created history in the AFL Townsville competition numerous times before, but now umpire Kimberley Berley will be calling the shots in next year's competition.
The 25-year-old has been handed the reins of the local competition as the regional umpires’ manager for AFLT.
Her new role will allow her to coordinate all of Townsville's umpires for the upcoming season and the busy mother of two will also continue her role on the field as well as off.
It's a huge achievement for the rabid AFL fan that was forced to give the game away at the age of 14 because of a lack of a female competition in the region.
And she will become the first woman in Queensland with the title.
The elevation is a just reward for Berley who was also the youngest ever field umpire in the local competition as a teenager and last year became the first female to control an A-grade grand final.
Berley saw landing the new role as the logical progression after achieving everything she could at an umpiring level.
She is currently a level two in both goals and field - the highest you can get to in regional areas.
And she said a healthy love of the game was the reason why she had stuck at it for 11 years.
"I guess for me it was just the next step," she said.
"It's just going out there and enjoying it. I love watching the game and, years ago, playing the game.
"Now it's just staying involved in it and showing the girls that there's more to football than just spectating.
"Women's football is not big up here so unfortunately we lose (the players), maybe I being out there will encourage others to come along."
But officiating the grand final still stands out to Berley as her biggest achievement.
"It was pretty good, I was pleased to get it and overwhelmed," she said.
"It was a payoff for all the hard work and effort and pulling your hair out with the players."
Berley was also the sole female representative from Queensland at the recent personal development umpires' coaching conference in Melbourne which was designed to give coordinators tips in managing umpires.”
Courtesy Townsville Bulletin, 25 November 2008. Article written by Josh Alston
Last Modified on 30/11/2008 18:04