The WRFL Umpires Association honours past and present umpires, administrators and officials in its Hall of Fame.
The association has decided to honour past and present umpires, administrators and officials by creating a Hall of Fame. Incorporated in that will be a "Legends Status" for certain people that the committee decide this honour is warranted to be awarded. The intention is that a selection committee will use certain criteria that have been set to make a decision on a person worthy of entry into the Hall of Fame. It is intended to use the Mid Season Dinner Dance to launch this and in 2003, the "Year of the Umpire", a total of ten people were inducted including one given "Legend Status". Each year thereafter the committee will decide on further persons to induct with the intention that an honour board mounted on the back wall of the umpires rooms will be used to honour these people. All inductees will be honoured with a certificate and their photo will be placed on this honour board.
The first selection committee comprises Henry McFerran, Terry O'Donnell, Wally Hopkins and Frank Lane. This committee has set the criteria and will meet in February to select inductees. It is envisaged that over the years different people will form this selection committee but all working off the criteria that has been set by the first committee. Each selector serves for two years and is then replaced by two more. In the first term, two will step down only after the first two years with the other two stepping down in third year. This does not preclude the same selectors serving another term after a break.
Criteria for selection to the hall of fame:
1. In the first year 10 people will be inducted of which one will be given Legend Status. (It should be noted that any member of the Hall of Fame can at any time in the future be elevated to "Legend Status").
2. After the first year a maximum of two can be elected but this should not be taken as mandatory.
3. Inductees will be umpires past and present (all categories), administrators (executive members past and present), advisors, coaches and observers.
4. Inductees must have a minimum of five years of service with the FDL/WRFL umpires.
5. For an umpire to be eligible to be an inductee, the following should be taken into account:
a. ability whilst with FDL/WRFL umpires
b. attitude towards umpiring
c. attitude to training
d. service to FDL/WRFL umpiring &/or association
e. they must have umpired at senior open age level but not necessarily at division one standard.
6. The purpose of establishing this award is to recognise people who may not necessarily have progressed to a higher level in umpiring but who throughout the years have contributed to umpiring in the FDL/WRFL. Whilst the intention is to award high achievers at FDL/WRFL level, it does not exclude people who through their efforts over the years, be it at a level below first division, for their tireless work in improving the Umpires Association or umpiring in the FDL/WRFL.
7. It should be noted that the hall of fame committee in any year can decide that there be no inductees for that year.
8. To induct a candidate or elevate a person to Legend Status requires a 75% vote from the selection committee ie. three of the four selectors must agree on the nomination.
It has also been decided that a board of trustees will be formed to administer the above rules and only the people elected as trustees have the power to change the conditions of induction to the Hall of Fame. These trustees will be elected for life, unless a member wishes to retire. Any replacement will be appointed by the current executive of the time. The executive of the Umpires Association will have the power to remove a trustee but this would only be used under extreme circumstances or on the advice of all of the remaining trustees. Any change to the above rules requires a 75% agreement from the trustees.
The trustees in conjunction with the Executive Committee will decide each year when and where the Hall of Fame function will be held.
There will be four trustees and they will be:
1. The current WRFLUA President
2. Henry McFerran
3. Alan Shutt
4. Terry O'Donnell
| Inducted | Capacities | Achievements |
|---|---|---|
Steve Sutton |
||
| 2024 | Field/Executive |
President 2018-present
Division 1 Reserves: 2010 |
Geoff Tresidder |
||
| 2024 | Field/Executive |
Assistant Secretary ?-present GRAND FINALS
|
Robert Aitken |
||
| 2023 | Field | |
Evan Eliopoulos |
||
| 2023 | Field | |
Peter Daglish |
||
| 2022 | Field/Executive | |
Joy Cox |
||
| 2022 | Goal/Executive | |
Brett Carter |
||
| 2021 | Field | |
Tim Moloney |
||
| 2019 | Goal | |
Greg Denison |
||
| 2019 | Field | |
Bruce Pain |
||
| 2018 | ||
Richard Watt |
||
| 2018 | ||
Ashley Borg |
||
| 2016 | Field | |
Leo Keating |
||
| 2016 | Administrator/coaching | |
Andrew Fregonese |
||
| 2015 | Field | |
Laurence Cooper |
||
| 2015 | Goal | |
Adrian O'DonnellElevated to Legend status: 2021 |
||
| 2014 | Field |
Started Umpiring in 1991 at the age of 11 when he ran the boundary. First Div 1 Game in 1997 at the age of 17 Went to the VFL Development Squad in 2002 (“Didn't have the motivation and back then I wasn't a fan of pre-season training”) 17 years as a Div 1 Senior Umpire Became a Life Member in 2003 314+ games in total in Div 1, with an impressive 34 finals (GF's and other finals included) Current Executive Member GRAND FINALS Div 1 Seniors: 1999, 2001, 2003-04, 2006-07, 2009-10, 2012-13, 2015 Div 2 Seniors: 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014 Div 1 Res: 1998, 2000 U18A: 1997 Div 3 Seniors: 1993 (boundary) U12A: 1992 (boundary) |
Paul BattagliaElevated to Legend status: 2018 |
||
| 2014 | Goal |
Started Umpiring in 1995 at the age of 52 First Div 1 Game in 1996 at the age of 53 18 years as a Div 1 Senior Umpire AWARDS: 1997 Neil Moorfoot Award for the most promising umpire 2000 Cliff Pryde Award for the most outstanding trainer 2008, 2011 Harold Mason Award 2009 Life Member GRAND FINALS: Div 1 Seniors: 1998-2001, 2003-04, 2008, 2011, 2013-15 Div 2 Seniors: 1996, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2009-10, 2012 Div 3 Seniors: 1995 Div 1 Res: 1997, 2006 U15A: 2013 U14D: 1996, 2007 U12A: 2010 U11A: 1995, 2005, 2008 U11B: 2009-10 |
Mark MatherElevated to Legend status: 2024 |
||
| 2013 | Field | |
Kevin Lewis |
||
| 2013 | Field | |
Paul Claughton |
||
| 2012 | Field | |
Roy Hamilton |
||
| 2012 | Field | |
IAN STEWART |
||
| 2011 | Field |
DIVISION ONE SENIORS: 1982, 83, 84 and 1985 DIVISION TWO SENIORS: 1988 and 1989 UNDER 17A: 1981 |
PHILIP SNOW |
||
| 2011 | Field |
Life Member 1989 Social Secretary 1984- 1994 Umpired Divison one senior games over a 20 year period. DIVISION FOUR SENIORS: 1985 DIVISION TWO RESERVES SECTION 2: 1991 UNDER 17B: 1986 UNDER 17B: 1988 UNDER 16: 1990 UNDER 11B: 1989 |
NOEL GRANTElevated to Legend status: 2022 |
||
| 2010 | Field |
Umpired 1970-74 vfl reserve grade. 1975 -76 – on selection board to advisor Jack Hayes 1977-79 –Footscray District Advisor 1980 – on selection board under advisor Kevin Mckay. 1981-82 on board under John Knott 1983-84 on board under John Hutson. 1985- after 8 games was appointed to replace Harvey Otta as Advisor. 1985 – appointed goal umpires advisor under Terry O'Donnell DIVISION ONE SENIORS: 1984 (G) DIVISION ONE RESERVES: 1987 (G) DIVISION TWO SENIORS: 1983 (G) DIVISION TWO SENIORS SECTION 2: 1988 (G) DIVISION TWO RESERVES SECTION 2: 1992 (G) UNDER 13A: 1975 (F) UNDER 13C: 1987 (G) UNDER 15A: 1989 (G) UNDER 17A: 1981 (G) |
TERRY MCGARITYElevated to Legend status: 2023 |
||
| 2010 | Field |
After a distinguished career as a footballer and coach joined Footscray umpires in 1979.
From 1979 to current time has served as-
Board man with a number of advisors, has served on umpires selection committee with number of advisors,phys-ed trainer with number of advisors , wrfl director, umpires observer with number of advisors , umpired in both juniors and seniors at all levels. DIVISION TWO RESERVES SECTION 2: 1989 DIVISION THREE SENIORS: 1988 DIVISION TWO UNDER 18s: 2015 UNDER 15A: 1984 UNDER 17A: 1986 and 1987 UNDER 16B: 1990 and 1991 UNDER 14B: 2002 |
Noel Bunce |
||
| 2009 | Field |
Footscray district 1966-69, vfl reserves 70-71, vfl senior list 72-79 fdl/wrfl 82-99 Board Member: 1984 Executive member for many years DIVISION ONE SENIORS: 1969 (B) DIVISION ONE RESERVES: 1987 DIVISION TWO RESERVES: 1986, 1989 and 1990 DIVISION TWO RESERVES Section 2: 1988 DIVISION THREE SENIORS: 1983 UNDER 17A: 1985 |
Graeme HodgartElevated to Legend status: 2014 |
||
| 2009 | Goal |
Footscray district / wrfl 1979 – 1989 , 1990-97 AFL supplementary list , then vfl /vfa senior list, 1998 – 2009 wrfl Goal Umpire Head Coach: 2010 to present Sydney exchange 1999 Tasmania exchange 2003 life member 2006 editor scovell news Umpired 43 VFL Games Umpired 43 VFA Games Umpired 43 AFL Reserves Games DIVISION ONE SENIORS: 1989, 1999, 2002, 03, 07, 08 and 2009 DIVISION ONE RESERVES: 1988 DIVISION TWO SENIORS: 2001, 04, 05 and 2006 DIVISION THREE SENIORS: 1983 and 1987 DIVISION FOUR SENIORS: 1984 UNDER 17B: 1981 UNDER 11A: 1987 UNDER 15B: 1988 |
PETER CHETTLE |
||
| 2008 | Administrator |
20 years plus with association as goal umpire PRESIDENT: 1982 life member: 1983 tireless worker for umpires. |
ERIC KNIGHT |
||
| 2008 | Administrator |
life member: 1982 Umpired through 70' and early eighties. Did many odd jobs when association had no home base. Held BBQs at his home and at his work. Responsible for the lighting now at ground. Inducted 2005 life member 1978 through 70's was the board secretary.many times when no home functions at his home. |
BOB MANTON |
||
| 2007 | ||
TERRY O'DONNELLElevated to Legend status: 2011 |
||
| 2007 | Administrator |
Advisor 1986 to 2002 Secretary 2003-2014 instrumental in setting up the umpiring academies. |
KEN GREIG |
||
| 2006 | Administrator |
DIVISION ONE SENIORS: 1969 (F) DIVISION TWO SENIORS: 1970 and 1971 (F) Life member: 1970 President 1970 Awarded for services to umpiring thru 60 and 70's. |
WALLY HOPKINSElevated to Legend status: 2013 |
||
| 2006 | Advisor |
Umpires advisor 1967-72 Life member 1972 Hall of fame selection board 2003-2004. |
Alan CloughElevated to Legend status: 2008 |
||
| 2005 | Field |
Awarded for services to umpires throughout 70's – acted as board secretary at that time. ADMINISTRATOR |
JOHN BOOKERElevated to Legend status: 2015 |
||
| 2005 | Field |
Awarded for services to umpiring thru 70,80,90's to 2010. Category of administration and field umpiring. Umpired well in excess of 1000 games in WRFL. 23 grand finals as a boundary umpire including 3 in a row division one GF's in early 70's.. 15 years on executive including 5 as secretary and a year as vice president. |
Stan MielczarekElevated to Legend status: 2010 |
||
| 2005 | Administrator |
Awarded for Services to Umpiring through 80s ,90s and up to 2010. Has contributed over $100,000 in funds to the Umpires Association. Stan umpired at junior level as field and senior level as goal umpire. He acted as club umpires liaison on a number of occasions. He ran the footy trip until he passed away.
|
FRANK LANE |
||
| 2004 |
Assistant Advisor Field |
Assistant Advisor 1986
FIELD DIVISION ONE SENIORS: 1963 and 1967 UNDER 17: 1962 and 1968
ON HALL OF FAME SELECTION COMMITTEE 2003 |
Henry McFerranElevated to Legend status: 2006 |
||
| 2004 | Field/Executive |
WRFLUA PRESIDENT: 1995-2017 WRFLUA SECRETARY: 1981-94 DIVISION TWO SENIORS: 1990 DIVISION ONE RESERVES: 1991 DIVISION TWO RESERVES: 1992 DIVISION THREE SENIORS: 1984 DIVISION TWO UNDER 18s: 2015 UNDER 9: 1981 UNDER 13A: 1983 UNDER 15A: 1986 UNDER 15C: 1989 |
JAMIE GUPPY |
||
| 2004 | Boundary |
DIVISION ONE SENIORS: 1991, 1992 and 1997 DIVISION TWO SENIORS: 1990 UNDER 16A: 1993 |
ROD DAVIES |
||
| 2004 | Goal | |
Graham SavilleElevated to Legend status: 2004 |
||
| 2004 | Goal/Executive | |
Peter StarfordElevated to Legend status: 2003 |
||
| 2003 | Field |
DIVISION ONE SENIORS: 1975, 1978, 1981-82 1986 DIVISION TWO SENIORS: 1977, 1980 DIVISION THREE SENIORS: 1979 UNDER 17: 1973, 1976, 1985 UNDER 15: 1972 |
TED TOWNSEND |
||
| 2003 | Field |
DIVISION ONE SENIORS: 1947, 48, 49 and 50 UNDER 18: 1949 |
Bob MadiganElevated to Legend status: 2005 |
||
| 2003 | Field |
DIVISION ONE SENIORS: 1973 , 77, 79 and 1980 DIVISION TWO SENIORS: 1974 , 83 and 1990 DIVISION THREE SENIORS: 1978 , 81, 82 , 87 89 91 and 1993 UNDER 17: 1972 and 1985 Under 16: 1970 DIVISION TWO RESERVES: 1992 WRFLUA President: |
SHANE CARLANDElevated to Legend status: 2009 |
||
| 2003 | Field |
DIVISION ONE SENIORS: 1987, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1997-98 DIVISION TWO SENIORS: 1988, 1990-91 DIVISION THREE SENIORS: 1985 DIVISION TWO RESERVES: 1986, 1993 |
ROBERT JONES |
||
| 2003 | Field |
DIVISION ONE SENIORS: 1935, 36 and 1937 Advisor 1946 and 1947 |
Alf GaleaElevated to Legend status: 2016 |
||
| 2003 |
Field Boundary Goal |
FIELD DIVISION ONE SENIORS: 1993 DIVISION TWO SENIORS: 1992 DIVISION TWO RESERVES: 1991
BOUNDARY DIVISION ONE SENIORS: 1989 DIVISION TWO SENIORS: 1998 DIVISION ONE RESERVES: 1986 UNDER 15: 1989
GOAL DIVISION ONE SENIORS: 1995
1st person to umpire Division One Seniors Grand Final in Field, Boundary and Goals |
HAROLD MASONElevated to Legend status: 2021 |
||
| 2003 | Field |
DIVISION ONE SENIORS: 1960 UNDER 14A: 1970 UNDER 14B: 1971 UNDER 15B: 1972 Under 13: 1973
FDL/WRFL UMPIRES TROPHY NAMED IN HIS HONOUR FOR SERVICES TO UMPIRING EACH YEAR |
ALISTAIR RAYNER |
||
| 2003 | Boundary |
DIVISION ONE SENIORS: 1985, 86, 87 and 1988 UNDER 17A: 1984 |
Alan ShuttElevated to Legend status: 2012 |
||
| 2003 | Goal |
DIVISION ONE SENIORS: 1996, 97, 98 and 2000 DIVISION TWO SENIORS: 1990 DIVISION ONE RESERVES: 1991 and 1992 UNDER 12B: 1992 UNDER 18B: 1993 UNDER 16A: 1993 WRFLUA Treasurer 1999-2017 |
JIM RAYNERElevated to Legend status: 2007 |
||
| 2003 | Field/Executive |
Administrator 1981 PRESIDENT 1983 -1990
In That Time He Was Instrumental In Establishing The Rooms And Social Facilities At Scovell Reserve. Previously The Association Had Been At Numerous Locations Such As Yarraville He Also Oversaw The Merger Of The Western District And The Fdl Umpires Which Almost Doubled The Size Of The Association. |
