The AFLUA has welcomed the appointment of Stephen McBurney to the role of Head of Umpiring. McBurney brings with him a wealth of umpiring experience having umpired 401 games from 1995 to 2013. More recently he was Australian Building and Construction Commissioner from 2018-2023.
Former AFLUA CEO Peter Howe will be awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for his exemplary services to umpiring and the association spanning 45 years.
Former AFL Goal Umpire Mark Ensbey has been awarded an Honorary AFLUA Life Membership for his extraordinary commitment to umpiring.
The 2023 AGM held on 5 February saw the AFLUA’s award winners announced.
Monday night saw the AFLUA annual general meeting held for 2023.
One of the most frequent questions asked of the association is “What happened to the VFL Reserve Grade Umpires Association honour board?”
Our final X-Umpires luncheon of the year saw a predictably strong turnout, with some from as far as Sydney and Albury sought to make use of the AFLUA’s celebratory Christmas bar tab. Around 40 past VFL, VFA and AFL umpires gathered at the Caulfield Glasshouse. This time, the interviewee was Roy Ferguson (Heritage number 172), who, from 1978 to 1987 umpired 134 games, including four finals. Roy shared anecdotes from his time behind the posts, detailing the extreme fitness programmes goal umpires were subject to… and how he bludged them. Another highlight was his story about the time a heckler got a deserved comeuppance when his antics backfired.
On Monday this week, a group of 15 ex umpires came together at Medway Golf Course in Maidstone for the second golf event this year.
The SANFL Golden Whistle Awards night last Friday saw three of the AFLUA’s AFLW members claim trophies.