Teacher wins umpire role
A TOWNSVILLE teacher has been selected to umpire hockey matches at the Commonwealth Games.
Toowoomba- born Kirwan State High School teacher Aleisha Neumann has played hockey since she was a child and has been in involved in the sport nationally and internationally.
Ms Neumann has family who live in Forrest Beach and on the weekend she ran in the Ingham leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay. She was nominated for the Townsville leg of the relay, but jumped at the chance when asked to join the Ingham leg.
Ms Neumann said her experience playing hockey had paved her pathway to success for umpiring.
“I attended the Junior World Cup qualifier last year and this year I’m on the Commonwealth Games panel and the ( Hockey) World Cup panel ( in London in July) as an um- pire,” she said. Neumann said it was still unknown which matches she would be umpiring following the first round of appointments.
“And from there it’s based on our performances in that game, that they might allocate different matches or different pairings from that point,” she said.
Neumann said there was an expectation to perform well and make consistent decisions.
“Then hopefully they continue to appoint you to games,” she said. “It’s pretty amazing to be appointed to the Common- wealth Games and to have that in Australia, but even in Queensland just down the road from where I grew up.
“It’s pretty special. I’ve got a lot of friends and family I know who are going to try and come down so hopefully they’ve got tickets to a game I get appointed to.”
Ms Neumann said carrying the torch through Ingham was surreal and she felt like she was “floating down the street”.
“I don’t really remember too many details of the caller talking in the convoy. It was only when I watched it back that I actually heard what he said.
“It was a really special moment to learn the stories of the other people who were also carrying the baton and what they had done for the community. And to be acknowledged and be a part of that group is pretty special.”
Earlier this year Ms Neumann attended a trial day to become a Gold Coast Suns AFL player and is now waiting to see if she has been selected.