Minute’s silence for crash victim
For 30 years, Glenn Elliott ran the sidelines, blowing the whistle on Waikato’s rugby fields.
The Hamilton grandfather always went above and beyond, being the first to put his hand up to help out in midweek games.
This Saturday referees across the province will don black armbands and observe a minute’s silence before kickoff to honour him.
On Thursday morning, the 64-year-old was killed in a car crash on River Rd on the outskirts of Flagstaff.
His son had married the day before.
‘‘He was always a bubbly guy, he talked about his family continuously,’’ Paul Jeffrey, president of the Waikato Rugby Referees Association, said.
‘‘He loved his family to bits. They were his life and he was extremely proud of all of his kids.’’
Elliott began his refereeing career in 1987. This year would have been his 30th year of service with the Waikato Rugby Referees Association, Jeffrey said. ‘‘He’s been around a long time. ‘‘We intend to honour his 30 year service when we do the next round and present the certificate to his family.
‘‘He was a valued member of our association. He always went above and beyond, always making himself available for even mid-week games, especially loved doing the kids rugby.’’
Despite his age, Jeffrey said Elliott was still refereeing at high school and Division 2 games up until last season.
‘‘The last couple of seasons he’s still been going when he could.
‘‘He was still active and running the line.’’
Jeffrey said Elliott was a ‘‘wellrespected’’ referee across the province who would be ‘‘sadly missed.’’
Outside rugby, the grandfather lived for his children and wife, who was understood to be battling ill health.
He followed his son’s boxing career and racehorse interests and was involved in the Te Awamutu stock car fraternity.
‘‘He was always talking about what his grandkids were up to. He was an extremely proud family man.’’
Family posted tributes to the much loved father on social media, thanking the hundreds of messages of support they had received.
Police confirmed on Thursday that one of Elliott’s sons was travelling behind him at the time of the crash.
Waikato road policing Senior Sergeant Pete van de Wetering said police investigations into the crash were ongoing.
Preliminary investigations showed Elliott was heading north along River Road in a Holden Cruze when he clipped a Hyundai travelling southbound.
‘‘As he skimmed off the Hyundai, wrenching the rear driver’s side wheel out of the motor vehicle, the deceased’s car has continued out of control on the wrong side of the road and then collided head-on with the VW,’’ van de Wetering said earlier.
The woman in the VW tried to avoid the crash but couldn’t.
Her car flipped on to its roof and ended up on the opposite side of the road on the grass verge. She was taken to hospital with moderate injuries.
Ambulance personnel, who were quick to arrive on the scene, tried to save Elliott but he died at the scene.
This weekend the Waikato Rugby Union have asked all clubs hosting games to observe a minute’s silence prior to kick-off on Saturday afternoon.
All referees will wear black arm bands as a sign of respect to the Elliott family.
‘‘He was a valued member of our association. He always went above and beyond . . .’’
Waikato Rugby Referees Association’s Paul Jeffrey