Netball NSW would like to congratulate Tamara Welsford of the Penrith District Netball Association who was this week named the winner of the 2020 Neita Matthews OAM Umpire Award.
Welsford has come through the Netball NSW pathway and this year officiated her first Suncorp Super Netball game, which the organisation hopes will be the first of many.
The award, named after the current Patron of Netball NSW – Neita Matthews OAM – is given in recognition of an umpire who demonstrates a desire to strive for excellence on court, shows consistency in performance throughout competitions and continues to improve their knowledge of the game.
Matthews has served Netball NSW in many capacities over a long period of time but predominantly within the umpiring sphere. She holds Life Membership of Netball NSW and is an inductee in the organisation’s Hall of Fame.
NSW Umpire Coach Sharon Kelly OAM was on hand to make the presentation on behalf of Matthews, and paid tribute to Welsford’s efforts over the past 12 months.
“This award is a well-deserved recognition for Tamara who has put in countless hours of training and learning in pursuit of her craft,” Kelly said.
“Officials are vital to the game, and despite all the challenges of COVID19 in 2020 it’s heartening to see our umpire consistently seek to improve themselves year after year.”
As well as the Umpire of the Year Award, Netball NSW also acknowledged umpires and bench officials who achieved national accreditations in 2020.
The following six umpires were awarded their National A Badges in 2020:
- Sarah McNamara - Liverpool City
- Sarah Toan - Penrith District
- Alex Fahy - Baulkham Hills Shire
- Michelle Thomas - Blue Mountains
- Karlee Farthing - Gosford
- Renee Marshall - Campbelltown District
While the following four bench officials received their National Bench Accreditations in 2020:
- Monica O’Callaghan - Baulkham Hills Shire
- Vicki Turner - Hawkesbury City
- Jenny Pike - Baulkham Hills Shire
- Kylie O’Brien - Sutherland Shire
Netball NSW would like to congratulate everyone who has helped make 2020, despite all its challenges, another successful one in the officialdom space. We look forward to a big 2021.
