It’s not every day you turn eighty… four fifths of the way to getting a telegram from the Queen!
But that’s exactly what we celebrated at North Sydney Oval on Thursday 8 April 2010 – 80 years of your Association. And this octogenarian is looking pretty good for its age.
In honour of the occasion, the evening was 80s themed. 80s hits were playing in the change rooms and plenty of umpires turned up in 80s gear… from legwarmers and fishnet gloves, headbands and mullets to classic umpires’ white short shorts which those sporting them were proud to still fit into. A couple of umpires even mysteriously gained new heads of hair.
After a welcome from your President, Jeff Milne, GG was generous in making it a light training session – a great relief to those of us for whom manmade fabrics were the order of the day.
The April showers that gradually turned into something of a downpour did nothing to dampen spirits, and after the usual warm-up the traditional sprint event was held.. but instead of the usual 100 metres, we got 20 less for good behaviour. After a series of heats, Nathan Elsworthy took out the title, though Liam Rowe argued strongly for a prize for coming in third.
After a shortened remainder of the training session, we retired indoors to towel off, stretch and listen to a speech from our Special Guest – Jim McSweeney. While Jim denied the vicious rumour that he was as old as the Association itself, his 50 years membership and active involvement in the Association was achievement enough. His speech really summed up the spirit of umpiring – the friendship, camaraderie and challenges. Jim urged us to live by one of the values of the Association and to support one another in working towards meeting the needs of umpiring and umpires in Sydney.
With round one hot on the heels of this training session, Graham Glassford launched Season 2010 with plenty of words of wisdom – respect, consistency and professionalism featured along with that most important of factors, enjoyment in umpiring.
Finally, the much-anticipated result of the judging of the best dressed 80s ump. Jim himself came a close second but the title was taken out by Robert Taylor, who proved you didn’t have to be born in the 80s to make the most of mullet opportunities.
Luckily, we had planned around wet weather in the food choices, with the group gathering to consume sushi and pizza… and what would a birthday party be without a cake? And not just any cake, this chocolatey feast was emblazoned with the Association’s logo.
It was wonderful to have several long-standing Life Members joining us for the evening – some fantastic photos were shared, and a hair-raising story of the consumption of long necks by a pair of boundary umpires back “in the day”.
Thanks to all those who attended for making the night one to remember .. here’s to the next 80 years!
Alison Stevens
Committee Member