- Tell us about your netball and umpiring journey
I started in netball at Ku-Ring-Gai Netball Association as a player, and just fell into umpiring as most players also did an umpiring duty within our club. My club (Hornsby Heights) had a great onboarding program for beginner umpires – learning the basics before we got to an ‘actual’ game on a Saturday at Canoon Road courts.
I progressed through our Association levels and was awarded my C badge, and a few years (and many club carnivals and State Age championships) later, was awarded my B badge at NSW Inter-District on a match out at Blacktown. At this time, I was also part of the Ku-Ring-Gai Umpire Committee, where I found an early passion for education and coaching of umpires.
I was umpiring regularly at NSW State League and was fortunate after about nine years as a B badge, to see some real gains in skills and knowledge under the guidance of my mentors at the time – Belinda Robson and Chris Hall. I ultimately progressed through the State pathway and was awarded my A badge.
At this time, I had made the move over to Manly Warringah association and started playing again socially, it was here that I made some new connections in the sport and met some stalwart club people of whom I still count as some of the most important influences and supporters in my officiating journey.
I was invited to 17s and 19s Nationals in 2012 as a replacement where I was primarily under the tutelage of coaches Chris Burton OAM and Jacqui Jashari, and later that year was appointed to the Under 21s National Championships. Over the next few years I attended the Trans-Tasman schoolgirls championships in New Zealand, international 21s tournament, and several national championships. These formative years in the national system and the guidance I was given, the insight into the game from some of the best umpires in the sport, and the support to grow as an individual really shaped how I view the game. I was ultimately awarded my AA in 2014 on the Australian Netball League.
My entry to the national pool was immediate, being appointed to my first ANZ Championship match in 2015, and I have remained in the high-performance group with Netball Australia since. In 2018, I was awarded my International Umpire Award on the Quad Series in New Zealand, and have since officiated numerous international test series, Commonwealth Games (2022) in Birmingham and Netball World Cup (2023) in Cape Town.
- What are some of your favourite memories from your early years of umpiring at KNA?
I have so many fond memories of my umpiring years at KNA, but mostly it is all about the community. The support at that time for the umpiring group from the Association but also from within the umpire group itself was incredible.
I used to love going to all three days of State Age/State Championships with the Ku-Ring-Gai umpire group, and also our annual visits out to Orange Association to officiate at their Grand Final day.
I still readily recall (and use) the advice I was given from within the KNA senior umpiring community like from Ken Eberbach, who on one particularly difficult game reminded me that I am a stronger and more accurate umpire when I just remain calm – advice I still keep in my umpiring toolkit today.
- What is your favourite netball/umpiring moment?
It is really difficult to narrow it down to one moment – there are many across the years and with so many varied groups. At a state level, my favourite moments involve community – I always loved seeing my umpiring friends and colleagues from across the state at annual State Champs weekends.
Nationally I will always remember officiating the Bushfire Relief match in 2020, between the Australian Diamonds and SSN All Stars – it was an incredible demonstration of support for the NSW communities so heavily impacted by the devastating bushfires.
Internationally, there have been some wonderful memories made so far, but a favourite would of course be umpiring the bronze medal match at the Commonwealth Games in 2022.
- You have been a coach and allocator at Metro League and Academy Games for many years, what do you enjoy about coaching/mentoring umpires?
Contributing back to the officiating pathway has been an important element of my umpiring journey, for a long time. I love seeing the growth in up-and-coming umpires, especially when they have that ‘lightbulb’ moment when you can see something just clicks for them. There is a great and special responsibility in helping to foster growth and build confidence in others, and it is a privilege I feel immensely grateful to have. Seeing many of these skilled umpires progress through the state system and further makes me incredibly proud.
I thoroughly enjoy working with the coaching and allocating team on my night at Metro League – we have worked together for many years and continue to challenge each other in our thinking, delivery and techniques of coaching – which keeps it really rewarding.
- What do you do away from netball, work, other hobbies etc?
My career is in commercial sales/sponsorship, and I currently manage community and partnerships at Little Athletics NSW – so you could definitely say I love sport.
Being an international official I get the chance to travel often, which I am so grateful for, but I always appreciate coming home to Sydney and being with my family, especially my two little nieces – Olivia and Charlotte.
- Do you have an advice/tips for umpires?
There’s no excuse not to be confident in rules knowledge – know the detail.
Be curious - ask questions of your coaches and of yourself – the ‘why’ is so important.
Take responsibility for all that you can: your training, your attitude, your decisions.
When the opportunity presents itself, take it.
Try and let go a little… enjoy the challenge!
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