The AFL Umpires Association has made its largest-ever donation to the Good Friday Appeal, raising $20,000 for the Royal Children’s Hospital.
The AFLUA has been a consistent contributor to the Royal Children’s Hospital since 1999. This year’s donation takes the total money raised since then to $150,000.
Each year the Association donates to the Good Friday Appeal through the Jeff Crouch Memorial Foundation. The initiative was established in the memory of former AFL Field umpire and AFLUA Life Member Jeff Crouch, who was the Director of the Royal Children’s Hospital Appeal for more than 20 years.
Much of the funding for this year’s donation came from the Association’s second annual Charity Golf Day.
In partnership with McDonald Management and Events, run by former North Melbourne footballer Donald McDonald and daughter Sally, the AFLUA hosted 68 players at Green Acres Golf Club on Monday 30th May.
Building on the success of last year’s inaugural event, this year saw the Association secure 17 hole sponsorships, with Melbourne City Toyota returning as major sponsors.
AFLUA CEO Rob Kerr noted the impressive growth of the fundraising efforts.
“We took the decision two years ago to try and at least double the annual donation of around 7K. This year, with great support from the event sponsor City Toyota, our hole sponsors and corporate donors, we have managed to do better than that.”
Now we have run two of these events I’m confident that we can double that amount again especially if we grow the involvement of the umpiring community along with the corporates.”
Money raised from the day is allocated to three charitable initiatives that the AFLUA has nominated, Down syndrome Victoria, the Chamberlain Foundation, and most significantly the Good Friday Appeal.
Following 18 holes of golf players were invited inside for a luncheon to hear from guest speaker Shane Crawford, who was interviewed by AFLUA CEO Rob Kerr. Crawf spoke of his own long history of Charity work, including his 780 km run from Adelaide to Melbourne and his 3,600km ‘Tour de Crawf’ cycle from Melbourne to Perth. Crawf’s efforts have raised over 2.1 million dollars for Breast Cancer Network Australia.
Also attending the luncheon was Katherine Mansour and Madison Robinson of Down syndrome Victoria.
The AFLUA has been a longstanding partner of DsV, most importantly through the Fiona McBurney Matchday Experience, which gives people with Down syndrome the opportunity to act as guest umpires’ trainers at AFL football matches.
The Fiona McBurney matchday experience is a favourite of the AFL umpiring group, who get to experience first-hand the joy it brings to participants and umpires alike. The special relationship between DsV and the AFLUA is something that CEO Rob Kerr is keen to maintain.
“The golf also helps us continue our support of Down syndrome Victoria which takes the form of the Fiona McBurney Match Day experience. That is a unique experience for the Down syndrome participants and is something we, and the umpires, want to continue to support.”
Katherine Mansour, who lives with Down syndrome, is the Chairperson of Down syndrome Advisory Network at Down syndrome Victoria. Katherine also runs her own small business selling her artwork online.
Katherine and Madison Robinson—a senior program manager at DsV—presented to the group, detailing the work and funding challenges of Down syndrome Victoria.
To hear firsthand of the incredible work of the Royal Children’s Hospital, Lee Jarvis was invited to give an update on his daughter Kiani. Kiani was diagnosed with Leukaemia at just two years old. Since then, she’s undergone a three-year chemotherapy schedule at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Kiani charmed guests at the 2025 golf day with her bubbly personality and bravery in the face of her circumstances.
Lee was glad to be able to update the group on Kiani’s progress since then, confirming that she’d finished treatment and ‘rung the bell.’ At the Children’s Cancer Centre, patients who are officially in remission ring a bell, sending joyful tolls echoing throughout the hallways of the hospital.
The AFLUA would like to thank all the sponsors who donated and supported the golf day, helping to make it an outstanding success, and achieve our biggest ever donation.
In particular, the contribution of Melbourne City Toyota as major sponsor has been outstanding for the second year in a row.
Special mention to Sally McDonald, whose tireless work and energy has been invaluable in bringing the golf day to life.
Anyone who would like to donate to the Jeff Crouch Foundation, can do so using this link. Donors should search for the ‘Jeff Crouch Memorial’ from the drop-down list and then follow the prompts. The receipt will be issued from Shout for Good instantaneously.
A full list of sponsors is available below:
- Melbourne City Toyota, Major Sponsor
- Kearny Group Business Advisory
- Dever’s List
- Tobin Brother’s Funerals
- North Melbourne Football Club
- AFL Players Association
- Linfox Property Group
- Holistic Athlete Development
- Dye and Co
- Clayton and Shuttleworth Recuitment Professionals
- Great Ocean Road Hotel Group
- Loan Studio Property Group
- ECO-SITE
- CJG Advisory
- Beraldo Coffee
- Punter’s Golf
- Club Champion
- PTP Fitness
- Clutch and Co