Umpires celebrate special 60th

It was a unique and fitting celebration for Gippsland Umpires Association’s 60th birthday when nine of the umpiring panel’s elder statesmen took charge of the senior match at Poowong on Saturday.

Appointed umpires Peter Heywood, John Brookes and Trevor Hobson, boundary umpires Geoff Legge and Merv Pentland and goal umpires Bruce Pratt and Jeff Bell are aged between 59 and 62 years, with an average age of 60 years.

Having already officiated in the under 18s match, experienced emergency Tom Morrison began the third quarter with a throw back to the bounce.

Goal umpire Bill Ross (77) came out of retirement to join the celebrations, waving the flags for the second half.

Fourteen-year-old Riley Feil provided additional energy needed as the third boundary umpire, even if he did drop the average age below the magic number.

GUA coach and former president Chris Behrendorff came up with the concept as a unique way to celebrate the panel’s 60th birthday.

More than 160 people gathered to engage in revelry and reminiscing at a function on Saturday night.

The GUA was borne out of the West Gippsland Umpires Association, which was formed in mid-1959.

The big change took place when the Bass Valley Football League approached the WGUA to supply umpires, with the association changing its name to better reflect the region it serviced.