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  • President's Night
    Tue 14 Sep 2010 06:00 PM
  • Presentation Night
    Sat 09 Oct 2010 07:00 PM

Members: Statistics – updated for 2009

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Kokoda Track update

As you know, Angus Heritage been investigating the alternatives for a group of AFL Sydney Umpires to walk the Kokoda Track in late 2011. Angus has done quite a bit of research and has the following message:

“I write to advise that I have coordinated a special guest presenter at our next AFL Sydney Umpires Association meeting on – Thursday 29th July – from Kokoda Spirit.

“Kokoda Spirit is Australia and PNG’s most respected and professional company trekking the Kokoda Track.

“The Kokoda Track is one of the World’s great adventures.

“Kokoda is a living, breathing, pulsating and evolving Track. It is surrounded by seemingly impenetrable jungle, pristine rivers and stunning waterfalls that cut deep into the brooding mist covered mountains then sweep down into beautiful, lush green mystical valleys.

“Kokoda Spirit is a specialised Australian adventure trekking company taking school groups, sporting teams, corporate groups and individuals across the famous an iconic Kokoda Track.

“Kokoda Spirit carries a full 10 Million dollars in Public Liability Insurance and has a comprehensive Risk Management Plan. 

“Kokoda Spirit is a Registered Business in Australia and PNG and operates under the laws of both countries. Kokoda Spirit complies with all licence requirements for it’s operations including the Commercial Kokoda Track Operators Licence. All our travel arrangements are completed through Spirit Holidays – Travel Agents Licence TAG 1611.

“Kokoda Spirit’s Managing Director Wayne Wetherall was part of the Foundation Committee that designed and implemented the trekking companies Code of Conduct. Wayne is also a Foundation member of the Kokoda Track Maintenance Advisory Committee.

“Trekking Kokoda with Kokoda Spirit is an experience not just a holiday; we trek with the perspective and knowledge of a historian and the passion and excitement of an explorer on a monumental adventure!

“Kokoda Spirit is passionate and committed to the legacy and Spirit that our Australian soldiers and their Papuan New Guinea brothers have left for us on the Kokoda Track and respect the customs and beliefs of the landowners, villagers and people of PNG.

“I hope you can attend the meeting to find out more about the proposed trek in 2011.”

Results - 2010 annual 100m Sprint

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Heritage Night – Thursday 10 June

Heritage Night will be held at North Sydney Oval on Thursday 10 June, starting at 6pm.

All Members are invited to join in our annual games night, including the coveted 100m sprint.

Further details to follow!

2010 Membership update - register now!

As part of the 2010-11 Collective Bargaining Agreement, the AFL NSW/ACT have agreed to subsidise Membership for all umpires who officiate in six (6) games or more during each home and away season.

Accordingly, for the first time, Membership for both the 2010 and 2011 seasons will be free for all umpires.

The Committee has also attempted to make Membership as simple and transparent as possible by allowing Members to tailor various add-ons (such as tickets to our major events) to their individuals needs.

Membership benefits

Membership of the Association has the following benefits for umpires:

• Access to the Member area of the Association website;

• Ability to receive all communications from the Association;

• Entitlement to purchase tickets to Association events / functions;

• Have their record of service and games maintained;

• Be eligible for Association awards;

• To stand for office on the Committee of the Association.

Plus, in 2010, all Members will receive an Association training set, comprising:

• 1 x Shirt

• 1 x Singlet

• 1 x Shorts

The training sets have arrived! Registered Members will be able to collect at training from Thursday 6 May.

Membership add-ons

Once registered for Membership, umpires will be sent also have the opportunity to pre-purchase tickets to our major events held throughout the year at a discount to their normal ticket price:

Presentation Night – Saturday 9 October – $90 (discount of $10)

President’s Night – Tuesday 14 September – $50 (discount of $10)

Reverse Raffle – June, TBC – $25 (discount of $10)

Members will also be able to pre-purchase a special “Feed Deal Voucher”, entitling them to a Thursday Feed Deal (meal and soft drink – valued at over $60) valid for every Thursday from April to August* – for only $50!

*Excludes Association meetings, where a free feed is provided to all Members in attendance.

How to become a Member

Umpires must register for Membership through the Association website, which is now available. Training gear will be only handed out once this registration is completed.

Register here!

Membership is due and payable by 31 May 2010 to receive the training gear and pre-purchase discount.

Additional information

If you have any questions on these or any other Association matters, don’t hesitate to Contact Us.

Round 2 - Umpire Appreciation Round

AFL Sydney have followed the AFL initiative and made this weekends round of matches as “Umpires Appreciation Round”. For each match this weekends the players and the umpires will shake hands prior to the game commencing.

Umpire Appreciation Round is an initiative of the Australian Football League aimed at encouraging all players, coaches, administrators and supporters of our game to appreciate the efforts of nearly 12,000 umpires nationally, of which close to 1,000 of those are NSW/ACT umpires, who officiate every weekend.

Too often the role of the umpire in Australian Football is overlooked and taken for granted. All umpires who officiate our game do so with the best intentions of implementing the ‘Laws of the Game’ to the best of their ability. This is a difficult task that is sometimes viewed in a critical fashion.

This weekend we look to show our appreciation for the boys, girls, men and women who take up the challenge of umpiring our game, by implementing some simple initiatives that ensure all umpires are valued and treated with respect The key messages of Umpire Appreciation round are:

1. Playing, coaching and umpiring need to have a stronger relationship.

All of the key participants within our game showing a high level of respect for each other. As role models, coaches should always ensure they act appropriately towards umpires.

2. Umpiring is everyone’s business.

We all need to have a positive impact on the match day environment – players, coaches, parents, administrators, volunteers, supporters and everyone involved in our game have an impact on the match day environment. If there is abuse and intimidation towards umpires on match day then the environment can be considered poor. If there is respect shown towards umpires and a level of tolerance then the match day environment will be positive.

3. Green Shirts mean umpires are still learning the game

Umpires who wear a light green uniform are still learning how to umpire and should be encouraged and supported. So this weekend every please show your appreciation towards umpires and the valuable role they play within the whole football community.

Article courtesy of the AFL Sydney website.

Report – 80th birthday / season launch

It’s not every day you turn eighty… four fifths of the way to getting a telegram from the Queen!

But that’s exactly what we celebrated at North Sydney Oval on Thursday 8 April 2010 – 80 years of your Association.  And this octogenarian is looking pretty good for its age.

In honour of the occasion, the evening was 80s themed. 80s hits were playing in the change rooms and plenty of umpires turned up in 80s gear… from legwarmers and fishnet gloves, headbands and mullets to classic umpires’ white short shorts which those sporting them were proud to still fit into. A couple of umpires even mysteriously gained new heads of hair.

After a welcome from your President, Jeff Milne, GG was generous in making it a light training session – a great relief to those of us for whom manmade fabrics were the order of the day.

The April showers that gradually turned into something of a downpour did nothing to dampen spirits, and after the usual warm-up the traditional sprint event was held.. but instead of the usual 100 metres, we got 20 less for good behaviour.  After a series of heats, Nathan Elsworthy took out the title, though Liam Rowe argued strongly for a prize for coming in third.

After a shortened remainder of the training session, we retired indoors to towel off, stretch and listen to a speech from our Special Guest – Jim McSweeney.  While Jim denied the vicious rumour that he was as old as the Association itself, his 50 years membership and active involvement in the Association was achievement enough. His speech really summed up the spirit of umpiring – the friendship, camaraderie and challenges. Jim urged us to live by one of the values of the Association and to support one another in working towards meeting the needs of umpiring and umpires in Sydney.

With round one hot on the heels of this training session, Graham Glassford launched Season 2010 with plenty of words of wisdom – respect, consistency and professionalism featured along with that most important of factors, enjoyment in umpiring.

Finally, the much-anticipated result of the judging of the best dressed 80s ump. Jim himself came a close second but the title was taken out by Robert Taylor, who proved you didn’t have to be born in the 80s to make the most of mullet opportunities.

Luckily, we had planned around wet weather in the food choices, with the group gathering to consume sushi and pizza… and what would a birthday party be without a cake?  And not just any cake, this chocolatey feast was emblazoned with the Association’s logo.

It was wonderful to have several long-standing Life Members joining us for the evening – some fantastic photos were shared, and a hair-raising story of the consumption of long necks by a pair of boundary umpires back “in the day”.

Thanks to all those who attended for making the night one to remember .. here’s to the next 80 years!

Alison Stevens
Committee Member

Members: 2011 Kokoda Track

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Milestones - Round 1

Congratulations to the following Members celebrating milestones in Round 1:

Matthew Baigent | Premier Division debut | Field
Alex Manfred | Premier Division debut | Field
Troy McCarthy | Premier Division debut | Field
Sean Richardson | Premier Division debut | Boundary

2010 Senior Field Umpire panel announced

Five new umpires have been selected in the AFL Sydney Senior Field Umpire Panel, which was announced on 5 April by State Umpiring Manager, Graham Glassford.

Matthew Baigent, Daniel Field-Read, Alex Manfred, James McBrien and Troy McCarthy have been selected on the panel of 19 for the first time. There is still one open spot which will be filled at a future date.

Glassford confirmed that along the five new umpires to the panel there have been a number of umpires that missed on selection. “I would like to congratulate them on their umpiring in the practice matches and encourage them to work with the coaching staff over the ensuring season” Glassford said. “It should be noted that umpires may be promoted or demoted from the list during the course of the season based on form, availability and injury” he added.

Full panel:

1 Anton Lewis
2 Matthew Gestier
3 Danny Deigan
5 Nathan Elsworthy
6 Justin Fox
7 Frank Kalayzich
8 Michael Peck
9 Andrew Rutherford
11 Pierce Field
12 Carl Fletcher
13 Tristan Stevens
14 Alex Manfred
15 Stephen Stork
16 Troy McCarthy
17 Matthew Baigent
21 James McBrien
22 Paul Barron
23 Daniel Field-Read
24 Chris Marathakis

Article with AFL Sydney website