The AFLUA would like to congratulate Chris Donlon and Brett Rosebury on receiving their Lifetime Achievement Awards on Tuesday 24th of February.
The pair were presented with their framed awards in front of their colleagues after the launch of the Fiona McBurney Match Day Experience.
Lifetime Achievement awards (formerly Special awards) are presented to life members for outstanding, long term contributions to the association.
Brett Rosebury’s contribution to Australian Football umpiring is unmatched. As the most experienced field umpire in VFL/AFL history, he has officiated 559 matches, including nine AFL Grand Finals. From his beginnings as a junior umpire in Western Australia to becoming the youngest AFL field umpire at just 20 years of age, Brett’s career has been defined by elite performance, consistency, and integrity. Over more than two decades, he has set the standard for excellence and earned universal respect across all levels of the game.
Equally significant is Brett’s impact beyond the field. As AFLUA President from 2019, he led members through unprecedented challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and periods of deep personal loss within the umpiring community. His leadership, empathy, and selflessness strengthened the welfare, unity, and professionalism of the AFLUA.
As the most experienced AFL umpire, Brett has, and continues, to mentor countless umpires. He is innovative and has a remarkable ability to get the best out of people on and off the field. Brett leads through his actions, inspiring others to embrace the balance of umpiring and life, with individual passions outside of the game. His influence has helped shape a more inclusive and supportive culture within the AFLUA, embodying the spirit of lifelong service that this award seeks to honour.
Another unprecedented time for the AFLUA and its members and their families was the tragic passing of Jesse Baird in 2024. Jesse was a close friend to many including Brett, and in the face of devastation and sadness, Brett led the group with immense courage and unity to honour Jesse and his partner Luke Davies. To this day, Brett continues to ensure Jesse’s legacy lives on in all of us.
Chris Donlon’s AFL career touched the absolute pinnacle of umpiring. Officiating 426 AFL matches including the 2011 AFL Grand Final, his tenure was marked by professionalism, performance, and humility. Yet his greatest impact has been off the field.
Since retirement, Chris has ‘given back’ to community football and umpiring by coaching and mentoring young and aspiring umpires. He has umpired community football in 2025, often sharing the field with his daughter Sarah, herself an aspiring field umpire. He has also taken to the field in community matches with other umpires who aspire to develop their craft and has been able to mentor and coach these umpires to help enhance and accelerate their development. In late 2025, Chris also umpired several AFLW games, again with a view to support, mentor and coach developing umpires.
Like Brett, Chris has performed the role of AFLUA President, representing, supporting, and advocating for AFL umpires. In his typical style, Chris performed this role with professionalism and humility; he also actively promoted the function of the AFLUA, drove the reimagining of some key AFLUA Awards, lead CBA negotiations, and encouraged others to step up and assume key roles and responsibilities.
It can be argued that Chris’ greatest legacy was driving the reinstitution of one of the most rewarding programs in sport – the Fiona McBurney Match Day Experience program. This program has industry-wide visibility, recognition, and acclaim, and its social and community impacts go beyond that which is measurable. Not only does it provide unparalleled joy to the program participants, it also provides their families and friends with enormous pride and happiness. The gratitude that is shown by the participants and their families is at times overwhelming, and AFLUA members are truly privileged to be involved in such a unique and rewarding experience. Were it not for Chris, this program would have been but a memory for those of umpires lucky enough to be involved in earlier iterations. With the program now back up and running with tremendous support and momentum, the Association has Chris to thank for lighting the fire which will no doubt continue to burn strongly for many years to come.
Both lifelong participants and supporters of umpiring and umpires, with contributions stretching from the elite level down to community football, Chris Donlon and Brett Rosebury are thoroughly deserving of the prestigious AFLUA Lifetime Achievement Award.
