Peter John Cohen is a respected former Boundary & Goal Umpire who umpired in the goals at the highest level, but unfortunately for Peter it was during the transitional era of our sport and opportunities were limited. Attend any of the AFLUA X-Umpire functions and it’s guaranteed Peter will be in attendance as an active member.
Peter joined the VFLRG in 1963 as a Boundary Umpire and in 1964 was appointed to the Under 19’s Grand Final. Alongside Laurie Kauiers his partner on the day, and Kevin Andrews as a field umpire. Peter served the VFLRG for 8 years and in that time officiated at 3 Under 19’s Grand Finals. At the end of 1971 he decided to take on Goal Umpiring. In his third year on the VFLRG he was appointed to the Under 19’s 2nd Semi again with Laurie Kauiers who had changed over to goal umpiring. In 1978, Peter was awarded Life memberships of the VFLRG, serving 8 years running the boundary, and 2 in the goals.
Peter’s advancement in goal umpiring became stagnated as the closer the VFL moved towards becoming National AFL, the number of Victorian Goal umpires reduced with Interstate umpires appointed. What also came into effect was that Peter would be turning 50 years of age and in those days once you turned 50 Goal Umpires had to retire. After 11 years in the Goals and only 2 Senior Appointments in 1982, the writing was on the wall and Peter decided to retire. Peter went on to become a goal umpire observer for two years.
Born on 22nd June 1936 at the Kew East St Georges Hospital to Cecil & Elizabeth Cohen. The family lived in the municipality of Kew and in 1941 Peter attended the Kew East State School. Then in 1951, Peter attended Richmond Technical School for two years. After that in February 1953, Peter commenced employment with Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board as a Fitter and Turner apprentice in the machine shop. After four years, he transferred to the Bus Branch. Which was a small instrument shop where they, repaired padlocks, ticket machines, cut keys and maintained all the clocks in the tramway system. One of his workmates was Reg Pawley, a field umpire on the VFLUA list. Reg finally convinced Peter to apply as a Boundary Umpire in 1963 on the VFLRG. As Peter was participating in Athletics, and was a very good cross country & middle-distance runner, running the boundary would assist his athletics.
As a regular attendee at the Kew Town Hall dance, Peter met his wife Elaine and the couple married in 1964. Today they have two daughters named Andrea & Narelle, 3 grandchildren Cameron, Lexie & Maddison and also 1 great grandson, Matthew.
Peter’s first game on the Reserve Grade in 1963 was in the Federal F.L thirds where he was observed by Tom McKenna, who was impressed and recommended Peter to umpire at a higher level. Over Peter’s 8 years there he had quite the list of accomplishments. He officiated at 3 Under 19’s Grand Finals and several semi-finals. One of the Semi Final included Carlton v. Fitzroy which saw an all in brawl occur with field umpire Ray Sleeth knocked to the ground. Photos of this incident appeared on the front page of the Herald Sun.
VFLRG board member Frank Leverett would sometimes call Peter on a Saturday night after a VFL seconds game to fill a spot on the boundary the next day in the Federal League because a fellow umpire had pulled out.
Those three Under 19 Grand Finals Peter considers the highlight of his career but has also mentioned he enjoyed umpiring VCFL Grand Finals. One trip to Yarram the hospitality was so great that the boys did not arrive back in Melbourne until 5.30 am on the Sunday. Peter considers todays game as a lot faster than in his time but is not happy seeing boundary umpires NOT standing on the line for a throw-in.
An embarrassing moment for Peter was while working he would catch the first bus of the morning from Templestowe at 7.02am where he would talk to many passengers. One Saturday, Peter had Carlton v. Fitzroy 2nds as a boundary umpire. When then a lady in the crowd kept calling out “come on baldy”, plus a few other names as the ball was kicked in from the goals and went out of bounds. He recognised the lady from the bus, so on Monday Peter asked her “Did you enjoy the football?” It then dawned on her that Peter was the Umpire she had been shouting at, and she was so embarrassed.
In 1973, Peter applied to the VFLRG as a goal umpire and was accepted. He continued to spend the next 11 years rotating between the Reserves & Under 19’s. Each year Peter received a final in the goals, but it wasn’t until 1982 that Peter received a Senior appointment. But as he was reaching retirement age for goal umpires his senior appointments only last two weeks. The two senior games Peter officiated at were Round 20 Collingwood v. Melbourne with Kevin Andrew as his partner in goals and Round 21 Fitzroy v. Footscray with Bernie Lowden as his partner of day. In 1985, Peter retired from umpiring and as the VFLRG records have been lost, we estimate Peter would have completed 230 games in the goals with 11 finals, and 150 games on the boundary including 7 finals, totalling 380 games on the VFL Reserve Grade. As umpiring was in his blood Peter took on Goal Umpiring Observing for two years. He continued to Goal Umpire with Marcellin College and spent 25 years there.
Peter was retrenched from the Tramways Board when it was privatised in 1993 and, obtained a part time job at Marcellin college in. He became a goal umpire there in the Associated Grammar Schools competition from 1995 -2020.
In 1976, Peter and family travelled to Christchurch, New Zealand with the Melbourne Tramways Band for New Zealand Championships, where they came first in the Street Marching and Display Marching. Family travels have also taken him to Malaysia, a cruise to Port Vila and Noumea, the U.K. & Europe with coachload of friends, as well as trips within Australia. In July this year, Peter & Elaine visited Newcastle to meet their 4-month year old Great grandson, Matthew.
In addition to his busy life, Peter plays Tenor Horn in three brass bands, spending 50 years in the M.M.T.B. which he received a special mention in the Victorian Parliament. Peter is active Secretary / Treasurer of the Melbourne Tramways Band, Secretary of another band, Secretary of his Chapter in Freemasonry, and a committee member of the third. He also volunteers for Callisthenics Victoria (a sport in which his daughters and granddaughter were/are involved) and was awarded Life Membership by them in 2004 for his services. And if that isn’t enough, he has also spent many years actively involved in his local Neighbourhood Watch group.
In 2012, Peter was awarded Life membership of the A.F.L.U.A. for his service. These days his goal umpiring colleagues meet regularly for lunch where the stories told are somewhat exaggerated.
Peter is slowing down a bit now but still actively walks every day to keep fit and at his age this is a splendid effort. You can guarantee Peter will be at any of the AFLUA ex-umpire functions, catching up with old friends. See you at the next Caulfield Function.
Graeme ‘Wizzer’ Fellows