If ever you are on the lookout for a true Association member, look no further than my next “Where Are They Now” feature – Ian Geoffrey Brown, or “Brownie” as he is known amongst his fellow umpires.
When it comes to Ian, you needn’t ask “where are they now?” for if you attend an Association function, one thing is for sure – “Brownie” will be present.
After four years on the VFL Reserve Grade list, Ian’s only grand final was in the Eastern District F.L. 3rd Division 3rds. In 1969, along with 35 other field umpires, he was promoted to the Senior VFL List, training at Caulfield. Ian spent the next 13 years striving to reach the pinnacle of umpiring – a VFL Senior Game. He umpired 4 VFL Reserve Grade games (2 in 1971 and 2 in 1972) in his quest for a senior game. The rest of the time, he officiated 274 VCFL games, including 49 VCFL finals – 8 of which were grand finals.
In 2015, Ian was inducted into the AFLUA Hall of Fame for his services to umpiring.
Ian’s philosophy on umpiring was always to work as hard as he could, earn the players’ confidence, and hopefully get the decisions right.
Need a story on Ian’s career? Just ask him – but make sure you have plenty of time up your sleeve! It’s rumoured that many a grandstand has been burnt down during his stories – though this isn’t true. The closest was a fire behind the grandstand at Ganmain in a paddock, which was quickly put out by volunteers.
He once turned up to a game driving a hearse after his arranged lift failed to show – the local undertaker kindly offered his vehicle. Ian boasts that he’s never been run out of town after a game and recalls riding a motorbike into a swimming pool after a pleasant Sunday morning at Red Cliffs in Mildura. He watched the pilot of an 8-seater plane read The Age newspaper while on autopilot during a trip to Swan Hill.
In his first game on the list – at Boolarra in the Mid Gippsland League – Ian wondered if there would be enough players to start the game, as only one team had arrived. Just before the start, a busload of players from Morwell Prison Farm turned up – they were the opposition.
He once had to drive a taxi home from a game (twice) when overtired drivers nearly fell asleep.
Ian became known around the bush for the way he handled difficult players. In 1977, he was knocked unconscious during the Western Border qualifying final at Casterton when an Imperials player kicked the ball into his face at close range. Trainers, captains, and other umpires rushed to help, but he quickly recovered and resumed duties. Ian claims this was his most embarrassing moment in umpiring.
While on the senior list, Ian served the VFLUA as Treasurer (1975–77) and was on the Executive Committee in 1978. That same year, he was awarded Honorary Life Membership.
Born on December 27, 1945, to Eva and Geoff Brown at the Murrumbeena Hospital, Ian lived with his brother Bruce in Ormond. He attended Ormond State School from 1951 to 1957, then moved to McKinnon Secondary College. In 1966, he transferred to Melbourne High to further his education and later studied at R.M.I.T. for two years. While at school, Ian participated in football, cricket, and athletics.
Ian’s interest in football blossomed while playing for East Brighton F.C., where he also ran the boundary every Saturday. This was the beginning of his umpiring career as a boundary umpire in 1959. After three years, he transferred to the Caulfield/Oakleigh F.L., where he umpired the Senior Grand Final on the boundary.
In 1963, Ian decided to try field umpiring with the South East Suburban F.L. He enjoyed the role so much that he applied to the VFL Reserve Grade in 1965. He was accepted – and was astonished to walk into a room of over 600 umpires!
While studying at RMIT in 1966, Ian took a job with Cranvel in Moorabbin as a Credit Manager, a position he held for eight years.
After four years on the Reserve Grade list, Ian was promoted to the Senior List in 1969. He also umpired with the Victorian Public Service in 1972 and officiated their Grand Final that year. With good reports from the bush, Ian was given two Reserve Grade games in 1971 and two in 1972 but never achieved the elusive senior game.
In one 1972 game, Ian replaced Mike Quinlivan due to injury in the South Melbourne vs. St Kilda match at Lakeside Oval. When the boardman entered the room, he said, “You’re not Quinlivan – you look like Ian Brown to me.” A communication breakdown, perhaps!
At the 1971 VFLUA Annual Ball, Ian met his future wife, Helen. They married two years later and today have four children – Steven, Nicole, Matthew, and Christopher – and three grandchildren: Chloe, Hugo, and Georgia.
Ian has officiated in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania (including the gravel oval at Queenstown), and South Australia. He umpired 8 VCFL grand finals across leagues like Bellarine, Alberton, Tatiara, West Gippsland, Southern Mallee, Farrer, Ovens & King, and Mid Murray. He also officiated in two representative games – 1970 (Tatiara vs. Kowree-Naracoorte – the “shirt tearers” game) and 1972 (Warrnambool & District vs. Purnim Heytesbury F.L.).
In 1973, Ian moved to Vulcan in Burwood as Assistant Credit Manager/Personnel Officer. In 1976, he joined Coates Hire in Dandenong as Southern Region Credit Manager/Risk Manager, later promoted to National Business – a position he held until 2004. Ian also became a Member of the Institute of Credit Management.
He was awarded Life Membership in 1978. When he retired in 1981, Norm Price (Boardman from the Reserve Grade list) asked Ian to help, as the Reserve Grade had taken over many Senior List appointments. Ian umpired 16 VCFL games that year, including the Mid Murray Grand Final where Swan Hill 19.16 defeated Tyntynder 20.8.
When asked about the highlight of his career, Ian cites the 4 VFL Reserve Grade games and the 8 VCFL Grand Finals.
With umpiring in his blood, Ian became Umpire Advisor with the Yarra Valley Mountain District F.L. from 1983–85, often umpiring himself when numbers were short.
In 1986, Ian was appointed Recruitment & Promotion Officer for the VFL/AFL, a role he held until 1993. From 1994 to 2019, he observed senior match day umpire performances. He also acted as Chairman and member of the Tribunal for the Yarra Valley-Mountain District F.L. (1986–95) and served on the Tribunal with the South West Gippsland F.L.
His thoughts on football today: it’s a vastly different game to when he umpired. Some changes have been great – others, not so much.
From 2013 to 2022, Ian and Helen enjoyed cruises to New Caledonia, Vanuatu, New Zealand, the USA, Canada, and the Australian east coast. In 2019, they took a train trip on the Canadian Rocky Mountaineer.
From 2015 onwards, Ian regularly helped his daughter by driving a postal van from the mail centre. He found this a challenge, as dealing with the public can be difficult at times.
When his son Matt was appointed Umpires Advisor at the Essendon District F.L. in 2021, Ian was asked to come out of retirement to observe umpiring performances – a duty he was happy to help with.
Today, Ian enjoys walking with a local walking group and also walks solo, averaging 30 km per week. He loves to travel and regularly attends horse racing. In fact, I had to cut my meeting with Ian short – he was on his way to the May Carnival at Warrnambool.
Not much you haven’t done in umpiring, Ian – we’ll catch you at the next Caulfield function!
– Graeme “Wizzer” Fellows