The Red Centre of Central Australia was the sizzling setting for the recently completed AFL Umpires Roadshow in the Northern Territory. The roadshow was conducted by experienced AFL Umpires Brett Rosebury and Jonathon Creasey with a helping hand from AFLNT Umpiring Development Manager Mark Noonan.
The vast surroundings of Central Australia provided a stunning backdrop as Rosebury, Creasey and Noonan clocked up 1400km over the three days. The trio visited schools and local umpiring associations to promote the benefits of umpiring across the Red Centre.
Over 250 students from year five to year twelve from seven schools throughout Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and the Ti Tree regions participated in the Roadshow.
Students from the schools were taken through a 60 minute umpiring session which promoted the benefits of umpiring Australian football with prizes awarded to those students who excelled during the sessions.
Each school participating in the program received an umpiring pack including the Ultimate Umpire DVD, the 2008 Laws of Australian Football booklet and DVD, as well as an AFL Umpire’s shirt signed by both Rosebury and Creasey.
AFL Umpire Roadshows promote umpiring and enhance the perception of AFL Umpires by conducting professional community development activities and programs across Australia. One of the key activities in the program is the Achieve Goals Actively sessions which are run in partnership with Down Syndrome Australia.
The Achieve Goals Actively sessions involves AFL Umpires conducting activities with children who have Down Syndrome aiming to promote the benefits of physical activity. The session in Alice Springs was conducted at Acacia Hill School.
During the Roadshow AFL Central Australia also conducted a successful “Come and Try Umpiring” session which saw six new adults and nine new junior umpires signing up on the night for the 2008 season.
In a fantastic finish to the Roadshow, Noonan, Rosebury and Creasey had lunch with the Lord Mayor of Alice Springs, Fran Kilgariff. The lunch provided the opportunity to discuss the fantastic benefits that umpiring can pass onto the wider community.
