Coorparoo High School student who began a ground-breaking umpiring career as an 18-year-old in 1989 after being recruited to football through a school’s recruitment campaign conducted by former AFL Grand Final umpire Neville Nash. Officiated in 212 State League matches, including the 1996 and 2000 grand finals. Created unprecedented interest upon her appointment as the first female umpire in AFL history in May 2000 at the Gabba when the Brisbane Lions played Richmond.
There were extraordinary scenes when the Gabba crowd at the school end gave her a standing ovation as she positioned herself for the start of the match. Umpired 28 AFL games, including several at the SCG and MCG. After retiring from umpiring in 2004 she filled various assistant and head coaching roles with local goal umpires. Awarded Life Membership of the AFL Queensland Umpires Association in 2002 for her contribution to that group, she also performed several ambassadorial roles for various state and federal government initiatives.
Was awarded the Queensland Sports Federation’s Officiator of the Year in 1998 and the Essendon Football Club’s Women’s Network Football Woman of the Year in 2001.
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