THE efforts of the region's football umpires have been awarded at the Ararat and District Umpire's Association annual presentation dinner recently.
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The prestigious Golden Whistle award was presented to year eight student Marti Corbett, who put in a great year as a boundary umpire. The Association said Corbett has trained hard and shown great improvement in his umpiring skills and fitness this year.
Association executive assistant and part time coach Greg McKinnis said the award is an encouragement award and goes to the most improved and promising umpire.
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"(It) is awarded to an umpire for his or her dedication, not only at training and game day but also a person who continually strives to better themselves in all aspects of the game," he said.
Corbett and fellow year eight student Byron Hemley also received their boundary umpire accreditation. McKinnis said the students' efforts meant the Association could supply "boundary umpires for the first time in a long while".
"Not only due to their commitment meant to training each week and umpiring throughout the regular season, but their skills and knowledge of the game have also grown each week and allowed them to be eligible for the finals series this year," he said.
Long-serving umpire David Reynolds was awarded life membership with the Association.
Reynolds started umpiring in 2005, mainly in the Mininera District Football League, Lexton Plains Football League and occasionally in the Wimmera Football League.
In total he has umpired 263 games over the past 15 years. In 2012 he was award the prestigious Golden Whistle for an outstanding year of umpiring.
He umpired the MDFL Reserves Grand Final in 2014 and 2015, Under 16s Grand Final in 2011, 2013 and 2018. He also umpired a Senior Preliminary Final in 2012.
He is 61-years-old and at that age to still be running around umpiring made him an obvious choice for the award. Throughout his career he has also been one of the Association's major sponsors.
Reynolds was not available for comment on his award.
Other umpires have also been recognised for their efforts.
Greg McKinnis and Adam Vermeend were awarded trophies for umpiring the under 16 grand final at Mininera and Tony Reynolds was awarded a the goal umpire trophy for the under 16s. Charile Cartwright was awarded the senior grand final umpire trophy.
McKinnis said anyone interested in getting involved can get in touch as the Association ramps up efforts to recruit more umpires for 2020.
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