Life Members and Pump Function revives old times
Monday, 30 May 2011
The 2011 VAFAUA Life Members and PUMPS function was a great success.
The function was held at the VAFAUA Club Rooms at Elsternwick Park before the De La Salle and Old Melburnians Premier match. Life Members, past members and current umpires were joined by VAFAUA President Luke Holmes, former umpire and current VAFA Board Member Justin Toohey and guest speaker John Russo.
This Life Members and PUMPS function follows other initiatives by the VAFAUA to embrace and involve Life Members and PUMPS in the activities of the VAFA Umpires Association. Other initiatives have included increased communication to Life Members, a dedicated PUMPS webpage and recognition of VAFA umpires who reach the AFL.
The VAFAUA is committed to growing the database of past members. Former members of the VAFAUA are encouraged to email secretary@vafaua.asn.au so their current details can be added to the database.
Left: Some of the guests at the 2011 Life Members and PUMPS function.
Right: Guest speaker John Russo with VAFAUA President Luke Holmes
Passing of Life Member Bill Mason
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
The VAFAUA would like to acknowledge the passing of Bill Mason.
Bill was a dual A grade grand final umpire under the one umpire system. He was a life member and past president of our Association. He was a very likable member and was held in very high regard by those who knew him. Bill bravely battled Parkinson's disease over the past years before passing last Saturday night.
The VAFAUA extends it's condolences to his family and friends. Black arm bands will be worn this Saturday in honour of Bill.
Passing
of former member Sam Kahn
Monday,
24 January 2011
It is
with sadness that the VAFAUA acknowledges the passing of former
VAFAUA member Sam Kahn.
Sam was a popular goal umpire who achieved his 10 years service
award in 1996.
All members of the VAFAUA send their deepest sympathy to the Kahn family.
VFL and TAC Cup Grand Final umpires announced
Friday, 17 September 2010
The VFL Umpiring Department has announced the umpires appointed to the VFL and TAC Cup Grand finals this weekend. Four former VAFA umpires feature in the appointments
VFL Senior Grand Final
Field: Matt Leppard, Matthew Brown and
Brett Ritchie
Boundary: Drew Kowalski, Michael Marantelli, Patrick Tongue
Goal: Courtney Lai, Anthony Kyrkou
Emergency Field: Andrew Mitchell
TAC Cup Grand Final
Field: Michael Curtis, Brendan Hosking,
Robert Young
Boundary: Tim Morrison, Graham Bergroth, Adrian Masterman-Smith
Goal: Steve Piperno,
Michael O'Donnell
Emergency Field: Robert O'Gorman
VAFA
Umpires on show in VFL finals
Goal:
Steve Piperno
Anthony Kyrkou
Michael O'Donnell
Michael Richardson
Chris Doyle
Glenn Young
Boundary:
Damien Cusack
Matthew Jenkinson
James Scully
Jordan Mayston
Field:
Nick Brown
James Twining
Robert O'Gorman
Daniel Silfo
Damien Anderson
And in more great news for the VAFA Umpires at the VFL, it was
announced this week that Steve Piperno is the VFL Goal Umpire of the
year. Congratulations to Steve from all at the VAFAUA.
Thursday, 2 September 2010
The VAFA has been strongly
represented in the Victorian
Football League in recent years.
This is in part due to the strength
of the VAFAUA and the coaching
programs that help developing
umpires to get the best out of
themselves.
The VAFAUA's strong representation
at the next level has been on show
during the current VFL and TAC Cup
finals. In the first few weeks
of finals, the following umpires
have been appointed to matches.
Former
VAFA goal umpire and the 2010 VFL
Goal Umpire of the Year Steve
Piperno
Life
Members and PUMPS function a great success
Sunday,
16 May 2010
A great time was had by all who attended the VAFAUA Life Members and PUMPS function at Elsternwick Park on Sunday 16 May.
Twenty-five Life Members and PUMPS were joined by members of the current VAFAUA Executive and VAFA President Bruno Conti to catch up with old friends and talk about great times.
This Life Members and PUMPS function follows other initiatives by the VAFAUA to embrace and involve Life Members and PUMPS in the activities of the VAFA Umpires Association. Other initiatives have included increased communication to Life Members, a dedicated PUMPS webpage and recognition of VAFA umpires who reach the AFL.
The next VAFAUA function for all members of the VAFA umpiring community is the Pre-finals Dinner to be held at the MCC on Monday 23 August 2010.
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Passing
of former member Bernie Dix
Monday,
22 February 2010
It is
with sadness that the VAFAUA acknowledges the passing of former
VAFAUA member Bernie Dix.
Bernie
came to the VAFAUA some years ago from St Pats Mentone Football Club
(now Parkdale Vultures) where he was a
It was goal umpiring that brought Bernie to the VAFA where he became a regular on the A Section panel.
All members of the VAFAUA send their deepest sympathy to the Dix family in respect of Bernie Dix, who on February 14, at the Alfred Hospital, passed away peacefully after 38 years of fighting Cystic Fibrosis and 14 years after a lung transplant.
VFL Grand Final Umpires Announced
Thursday, 24 September 2009
The umpires for the VFL and TAC Cup Grand Finals have been announced. Former VAFAUA members feature in the selections.
The TAC Cup grand final this Friday features former VAFA umpires Steve Piperno and Michael O'Donnell in the goals.
And last week the VFL Reserves Grand Final featured Neil Woods and Matt Jenkinson on the boundary and Michael Richardson in the goals.
Congratulations to all umpires selected.
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Top game for Mark Bushfield Thursday, 17 September 2009
Former VAFAUA member Mark Bushfield has been appointed to the number one game in the Geelong Region this weekend - the Geelong Football League Grand Final between St Josephs and South Barwon.
Bushy's career at the VAFA from 1986-1998 was highlighted by the B Section Grand Final in 1991 with Darren Dalgleish in the field and Leah Gallagher on the boundary. He was also awarded Life Membership of the VAFAUA.
A couple of years off and a move to the west coast of Victoria saw Bushy join the Geelong Football Umpires in 2001.
Known for his incredible fitness and ability to run further and faster than most, Bushy is very pleased to finally get the number one game after 25 years of umpiring senior football.
Congratulations from everyone at the VAFAUA. |
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VFL finals action for VAFAUA alumni Monday, 14 September 2009
Former VAFAUA members currently umpiring in the VFL are featuring prominently in the VFL and TAC Cup finals matches this year.
Field umpire Tim Saunders has had a season of improvement, culminating in his first VFL Senior final between Box Hill and Geelong.
VFL Umpiring Coach, Adam Davis said “Tim umpired 19 Senior games this year, on top of his 11 in his debut year in 2008. We will be looking for him to continue to develop over the next 12 months and work on stronger consistency in his performances.”
Rob O’Gorman has also had a solid year in 2009, highlighted by representing the VFL at the National Under 16 Championships. Rob has been selected to umpire the U16 grand final which is the curtain raiser to the AFL grand final at the MCG.
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Of Robert O’Gorman, Adam Davis said “Having trialled for the Senior Squad in the summer, Rob has had a taste of Senior football and we now need to see him focus on delivering the total package to become a Senior Umpire.”
Unfortunately, Daniel Silfo has endured a frustrating season plagued by a back injury.
While in the goals, Anthony Kyrkou and Chris Doyle both umpired in the TAC Cup for the first week of finals. Michael O’Donnell and Michael Richardson umpired Senior VFL games in week one of the finals followed by VFL Reserves in the second week.
Steve Piperno has umpired VFL Seniors in both weeks of the finals and is working towards a grand final finish to the season in either the VFL or the TAC Cup.
And boundary umpires Jordan Mayston, Matt Jenkinson, Damien Cusack and Neil Woods have all had outstanding years at VFL level. Everyone except first year boundary Jordan Mayston have featured in the early weeks of the finals. Neil Woods is aiming for his third consecutive VFL Senior grand final.
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VFL boundary umpires Neil Woods (above) and Matt Jenkinson (below) |
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Ken Jorgenson named Big V Champion Thursday, 23 July 2009
The VAFA's Big V Club elevated six of its members to elite status at its annual lunch at the RACV Club on Friday 10 July 2009.
The honour of Big V Champion was given to former VAFAUA member Ken Jorgenson.
Ken was a member of the VAFAUA from 1968 to 1976 during which time he umpired 160 games. And in 1973, he was selected to umpire the Interstate Carnival.
Following his successful umpiring career, Ken continued his involvement in umpiring as an Observer for a further 27 years.
But Ken's elevation to Big V Champion was not based on his umpiring alone. Prior to joining the VAFAUA, Ken played 88 games with the Commonwealth Bank FC including being chosen to represent Victoria on six occasions from 1962 to 1965.
Ken is believed to be the only person to play and umpire amateur football at state level.
Congratulations to Ken Jorgenson on his elevation to Big V Champion status. |
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Passing
of Wayne Henry
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
It is
with sadness that we acknowledge the passing of VAFAUA Life Member
Wayne Henry.
Wayne
umpired with us from the late 70’s till the late 90’s, and in that
time Wayne established himself as a top no nonsense umpire who
umpired over 300 games. Wayne was also a dedicated
trainer within the group and his prowess saw him take the role of
fitness advisor of the umpires.
His
fitness and ability enabled him to achieve a total of 5 A-grade
Grand Finals and 2 B-Grade Grand Finals on the boundary, matching
his skills with both brothers Denis and Ian who also umpired with
the VAFA.
As a
field umpire, Wayne's greatest achievement was umpiring the
1989 C-Grade Grand Final.
Off the
field Wayne was involved in the workings of our
administration and leading our association as President in 1988.
Wayne also had the pleasure of watching his daughter Lisa join
our group on the boundary.
All at
the VAFAUA express our condolences to the Henry family at
this time.
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Michael Saunders on the big stage Monday, 22 June 2009 Tim Sutcliffe, vafaua.asn.au
Former VAFA boundary umpire, Michael Saunders, is enjoying the adrenaline rush that is AFL football. After debuting in Round One at Etihad Stadium, Michael has become a regular at AFL matches this year.
I debuted somewhat surprisingly in Melbourne, Round 1, Sydney vs St Kilda at Etihad Stadium. It was a very nerve-racking but exciting experience! Nothing can really prepare you fully for the adrenaline rush.
Michael's umpiring career began at the VAFA in 2004 when he chose umpiring as a way to keep fit over winter in between athletics seasons. It didn't take long for Michael to reach the top and after only two years in the VAFA, he had an A Section Grand Final in 2004 and two representative matches in 2004 and 2005 to his name.
I loved the culture of the VAFA umpiring - train hard, have fun. When I arrived it was Bob Mutton who taught me the ropes and gave me the basics on what I should be doing when on the field. And Geoff Caulfield was also great with advice on the things I needed to sharpen in order to progress.
After completing University and accepting a Graduate job in Sydney, Michael resumed his umpiring career in the NSWFL. Once again it didn't take long for his umpiring ability to be recognised by the umpiring coaches at the NSWFL and the talent scouts at the AFL.
I was looked at seriously for a position on the AFL list towards the end of last year and was observed by the AFL's National Boundary umpires coach. Subsequently I was offered a position on the list.
And now with eight AFL games to his name and umpiring experiences in Melbourne and Sydney, Michael is enjoying the excitement of the big games.
It is a real thrill being on the ground amongst the action with such a crowd. Obviously there is pressure but that never seems to over-shadow how much fun you have.
And of the future, Michael knows that a lot of hard work off the ground is required to achieve success on the field.
My goal is firstly to have a successful first season to cement myself on the list. In the future years I'd love to progress and umpire finals - which is always the goal for any umpire at any level.
Everyone at the VAFAUA will be following Michael's progress and hoping he has a long and success AFL umpiring career. |
Michael Saunders in his AFL debut at Etihad Stadium, Round One 2008. |
