How often does this happen? A brilliant footballer’s career is cut short by injury, so they decide to take on umpiring. James Edmund Rolfe, or Jim as is colloquially known, played with Maidstone in the Footscray & Dist. League. From all reports a talented footballer, injury put an end to Jim’s career early. Unable to satisfy his appetite for football by playing, in 1964 under the coaching of former VFL Umpire Wally Hopkins, (now the AFLUA’s oldest living member) he joined the Footscray & Dist. F.L as an umpire.
Born on 31 October 1943 to Len & Lucy Rolfe in East Melbourne, Jim lived with his mother and grandparents in Footscray while his father, who had enlisted in May that year, was serving in the Army. After his father’s discharge from the 148 General Transport Company on 3 May 1944, the family moved to Seymour where Len had found employment. It wasn’t long before the family was back in Footscray, living with the grandparents again whilst his parents were having a house built in Fisher Street Maidstone. This house remained the family home until Jim’s parents passed away. Jim has a younger brother Paul, who is 8 years his junior.
In 1949 Jim was enrolled at the North Footscray State School and at the age of 10 years Jim tried his hand at Tennis, with the Rosamond Tennis club. That was until Cricket and Football took precedent. A talented junior cricketer, Jim was playing senior cricket at just 15, and was soon invited to join the Yarraville Cricket Club in the sub-district competition.
Jim Rolfe features on the front page of the Hopetown Courier. 20th September 1973.
Having graduated in 1955, Jim enrolled in Footscray Technical School in 1956, to the backdrop of the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. Through the School Jim was able to purchase tickets to attend the Olympics for 3 days at the MCG. Jim remembers vividly events such as the 5000 metre final, where the USSR’s Volodymyr Petrovych Kuts narrowly won, Australia’s Betty Cuthbert and Shirley Strickland winning the 200 metres the 80 metre hurdles respectively. Statues of both women now stand at the MCG amongst other Australian sporting legends.
After gaining his intermediate certificate in 1959 Jim left school to start a 5-year apprenticeship at H.M.A Naval Dockyard in Williamstown in 1960. During this time Jim attended Footscray Technical College part time, to become an ‘A’ grade Electrician. Encouraged to do extra subjects at school including night school to become an Engineer, soon got sick of night school. After completing his apprenticeship at the dockyard he worked as their maintenance electrician before being elevated into the Electrical Drawing Office as a draughtsman. In 1969 the Navy offered Jim a transfer to their offices in Canberra, but he declined and resigned his position.
It was whilst relaxing at his parents’ holiday house in West Rosebud in December 1967 where Jim met his wife Jill. Jim was exercising on the beach when two girls looking on from the shallows offered coquettish encouragement, clapping him on. It was then Jim met Jill. They would marry three years later in the practical month of January: Jim hoped not to miss much cricket and Jill, being a school teacher, was on holidays. Today after 55 years married, they have 2 children and 4 grandchildren.
After some time umpiring with the Footscray and Dist. F.L, and with the encouragement of Bill Deller OBE, Jim successfully applied to the VFL Reserve Grade. After three years on that list, including 2 semi-finals and 1 Grand Final in the Diamond Valley League, he was promoted onto the Senior List with 35 other umpires in 1969.
His first appointment on the Senior List was in the Bass Valley F.L. on the 26th April where Inverloch-Kongwak 21.11 d. Glen Alvie 7.9. Although told he was next in line and spotted several times by observers, Jim never received the chance to perform in the VFL 2nds.
Umpire Rolfe gets some votes from newspaper columnist Bruce Matthews in The Sporting Globe.
In 1970 the VFLUA had an end of season trip to South Australia where a friendly football match had been organized at Echunga. Jim was awarded the best Vic’s player by the S.A.N.F.L.U.A and presented with a lovely trophy for the occasion.
Buying their first house in Mount Waverley and leaving the Western Suburbs this curtailed Jim’s time with the Yarraville Cricket Club. To continue his cricket during the summer months Jim joined the Ashwood Cricket Club in 1970 which had the closest turf wicket to where he was living. This was the best move Jim ever made as he retired from Cricket with Ashwood at the age of 54 years, after 27 years. He Captained the second eleven to two premierships, was President for 12 years and whilst President had two members who played at Ashwood in the Australian Test team in Dean Jones & Paul Reiffel. For his service to the club Jim has the best player trophy named after him. Opening the batting in the first eleven against ‘Froggy’ Thomson who stated to Jim “I’m after your wicket today.” Not what Jim expected from him since he was his emergency umpire in his first league game.
1972 was an eventful year for Jim who was appointed to the O. & M. game, Wangaratta Rovers and Albury when during the match just after half time an on- field brawl broke out adjacent the players bench. Spectator and players were all involved. Jim had to halt play whilst the Police in attendance restored order. VFL League officials rang Jim on Monday morning to explain what happened and complimented Jim on his handling of the situation. Several reports resulted from the melee. Wangaratta won the match 13.18 defeating Albury 11.11.
One of Jim’s trips to Mildura in 1973, the Sundays were an enjoyable day out at Red Cliffs which developed into a fishing trip in a small rowboat on the swollen Murray River. On this occasion Jim helped save fellow umpire Ken Quinn who fell overboard from a small dingy into the flooded Murray River, managed to grab him when he surfaced from under the boat. Another umpire Ian Brown sitting on the riverbank stated that Jim’s quick reaction saved Quinny from floating to Adelaide.
At the end of 1973 Jim decided that having just started his own Electrical business and with two young children country travel on the VFL list was too much and resigned from the VFL. It was suggested that Jim join the Victorian Football Association. Upon joining Jim was told by Advisor Peter Sheales not to expect a senior VFA game in his first year. Injury struck in his second year when achilles soreness during the final practice match saw Jim miss most of the season. He tallied 28 VFA games, all in minor competitions. After two years stabilizing his Electrical Business Jim returned to the VFL to continue his quest to umpire senior football.
In 1976 Merv Hindson picked Jim up for an Ansett flight to their Western Border finals matches. Merv’s car broke down causing them to miss the bus to the airport. Told to catch a taxi they will hold the plane, once they got to the airport the plane was there but ground crew to stop them at the boarding gate. Walking onto the tarmac they could do nothing but watch as the stairs to the Fokker were pulled away. Then started the scramble back to the city to catch a Pioneer bus to Mt Gambier. They finally just after midnight. It all ended well as the Western Border Officials were happy to see them on Saturday morning but ropeable the plan
Jim in China during the 1986 VFLUA trip.
e did not wait for a few minutes as one official at the Mount was a manager with Ansett. They also mentioned that VFL CEO Jack Hamilton had been asking “where were our umps?” when they did not embark from the plane.
At the end of 1977 the VFLUA had an end of season trip to New Zealand both islands where Jim and his wife Jill were amongst the touring party. A member of the Umpires’ trip to Bangkok, Hong Kong and Malaysia with trip manager B.E.Turner in 1983, Jim decided to take on the role as Trip Manager for the VFLUA trip to China, Hong Kong and the Philippines in 1986.
Another incident to Jim’s career was the Tallangatta Grand Final between Mitta United and Tallangatta Valley where Jim had 5 reports before he had bounced the ball to start the match. Unfortunately, five more years of travelling the bush was too much and at the end of 1980 Jim retired from umpiring, his last game the Mid Murray Grand Final between Tyntynder 16.19 d. Woorinen 11.23. His tally of games were; VCFL 177 games; VCFL Grand Finals 7 in leagues such as Southern Mallee, Alberton, Omeo, Tallangatta & Dist., Northern Mallee x 2 and Mid Murray. Appointed to 19 finals in the VCFL, 7 of which were Preliminary Finals. Jim was presented with his life membership in 1981.
But all was not lost to Umpiring as Jim took on the roll as training supervisor at the Caulfield Track for two years then onto Princes Park for the 1982 season. Promoted to the Premier Track Olympic Park Jim continued his roll as assistant training supervisor for two years helping Tony Cappomolla. Jim was asked to move on as it was planned by the board to have a Coach who specialised in sprinting.
Retiring at the age of 71 years, and after 49 years in the same house in Mount Waverley, Jim moved to be closer to his family in Geelong where he spends most of his time playing golf. A member at Thirteenth Beach Golf Links, Jim is a regular at the Umpires’ lunch at Caulfield.
Many happy years of retirement Jim, lovely to chat – Regards Wizzer
Graeme ‘Wizzer’ Fellows