Humble, that’s just Dandy
LIFE membership is one of the most prestigious recognitions in sport, and Howard Dandy’s admission to the Victorian Basketball Referees Association’s list could not be more fitting.
The 70-year-old has dedicated a lifetime of service to the sport, and a year after receiving a VBRA service award his standing has been upgraded to life membership. And what a life it’s been. “I started when I was about 12 or 13 — I’m 70 now — so it would be thousands and thousands of games over the years but I’ve enjoyed it all,” Dandy said yesterday.
“You have moments when you might do a bad one but generally speaking great.
“Last week I got a diamond service award for 50 years. I hadn’t even thought about it. It doesn’t really add up until someone asks you about it.”
Dandy began refereeing on a concrete court at St Mary’s in 1959, thrown into the deep end in the men’s competition — there were no junior or women’s comps in those times.
Neither were there coaching clinics or referee schools — Dandy was simply handed a grey T-shirt and a whistle and off he went.
The pathway to a career opened up, but by this time Dandy had a family, a job as a schoolteacher and also played in a band.
When given the opportunity to reach the highest it’s been level of refereeing, Dandy had a tough decision to make.
“That was my goal but I was playing in a band and it was around the time the national league was gathering momentum,” he said.
“They called us to a meeting and said everything in your life, apart from your family and job, has got to go by the wayside.
“My kids were very young at that stage and they were saying you had to be prepared to fly interstate for the national league, and you’d be virtually told where you’ve got to be and when.
“I thought it was too much commitment so I thought I’d stick around Victoria then.”
Along the way, Dandy met the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince Phillip as they inspected Albert Park courts in the mid 1980s, he was an official at four Australian championships and he was given the task of overseeing the referee program in the Geelong and southwest Victorian areas.
One of his most controversial games was between the Supercats and Melbourne Tigers, when Dandy reported a Geelong player for striking an opponent and breaking his jaw.
The player copped 12 weeks before the Tigers victim sued. Dandy was called to give evidence in the Supreme Court and the claimant won.
Cancer, a bone marrow transplant and open-heart surgery has tried its best to stop Dandy, but the veteran ref is planning another return.
“I had a heart attack late last year and that pulled me up, but in my mind I’m not retired,” he said.
“When I get the OK I’d like to go back, even if it’s only kids’ games. I enjoy doing it no matter what it is, kids or adults.”
Dandy said he was proud of the VBRA accolade, which adds to life memberships at the Geelong Basketball Associ- ation and Geelong Referees Association.
“I’m very, very proud. I didn’t ever think about those sorts of things, you just do what you do because you enjoy it,” he said.
“I enjoy helping a lot of younger refs, and many of them are now doing the national league, which is very nice to see. I feel a bit of satisfaction out of that.
“I enjoy even doing the local finals, that was always really good. We’ve got a good comp in Geelong, a very good standard, so I’m hoping to get back to it, maybe not in a fullbore way, but just get back and help out.”
Referee adviser Rob Miller also received a recognition of service award at the VBRA AGM at the weekend.