“Dedicate yourself and you gon’ find yourself standing in the Hall of Fame”.
The Scripts’ frontman Danny O’Donoghue wrote those lyrics for his band’s hit song, Hall of Fame, in 2012.
They are the simple final line of arguably The Scripts' most well-known song, but they are also the perfect words to describe the efforts of the Goulburn Valley Football Umpire Association’s inaugural hall of fame inductees.
On September 27 at Moama Bowling Club, the association held its annual awards night to celebrate the unheralded figures of football — the umpires.
The awards night had an extra cause for celebration, with the announcement of the first 15 hall of fame inductees.
AFL Goulburn Murray regional director of umpiring Andrew Moore said he enjoyed honouring the region's most influential umpiring figures at the association's night of nights.
“It was great to recognise the season that was and the successes throughout the year,” Moore said.
“It was great to induct some members into the new hall of fame for the work they have done.
“Just to acknowledge those that have gone above and beyond.
“The people that have taken the association to the next level through years of service, but also through what they have contributed in their time.”
Umpires being part of the foundation of football at any level, Moore said the association was busy developing the next generation of whistle blowers.
“We are in a very promising space,” he said.
“There is always work to do, but the programs that we have set up and are starting to use every year, we are starting to reap the rewards.
“Increasing numbers, increasing retention and recruitment of umpiring, which in turn, has helped us increase the standard of umpiring.”
Goulburn Valley Football Umpires Association 2024 award winners
- Best First Year Field Umpire: Spencer Sharp
- Most Improved Field Umpire: James Cole
- Dedication to Field Umpiring: Kate Christie
- Best First Year Boundary Umpire: William L’Estrange
- Most Improved Boundary Umpire: Noah Moore
- Most Promising Boundary Umpire: James Lyle
- Best First Year Goal Umpire: John Forde
- Most Improved Goal Umpire: Damon Young
- Dedication to goal umpiring: Brett Hoskin
- Most Available: James Meek
- Howard Phillips Best Clubman: Barry McCrae
- Coaches Award: Shepparton: Corey Mark, Moama: Kelly Horking, Kyabram: Allen family, Seymour: Edison Waghorn
Goulburn Valley Football Umpires Association 2024 major award winners
- AFL Victoria – “Promotion of Umpiring” Community Award: Peter Fawcett
- Ron Pell “Blood in the Boots”: Peter Warden
- Phillip Moran Rising Star: Oscar Eade
- Greg Sidebottom Golden Whistle Award: Bridie Mackay
- Life Membership: James Hilder, Christine Owen and Andrew Wright
- Ian Coates Award: James Meek
Hall of Fame inductees
Keith Hindson, Pat Dalton, Owen Power, John McDonald, Tom O’Halloran, Ian Coates, Bernie Mullane, Eric Williams, Peter Barker, Peter Stein, Chris McCallum, Don Oliver, John Paterson, Greg Sidebottom and Len Hort