The Official of the Year is recognised and awarded at the Coles Little Athletics Australia Hall of Fame.
LAA Board Regulation Official of the Year Award Criteria and Process
To be considered for nomination as the Official of the Year, one must:
Julie Cousins (2018): Level 2 Jumps Official, Level 2 Throws Official, Level 1 TOECS Official and has 15 years’ experience in the sports of Little Athletics & Athletics. Officiating at both Little Athletics and Australian Athletics levels, Julie is a proven performer at the highest levels officiating at ALAC’s & the Commonwealth Games.
Peter Boden (2019): Competition and Technical Director for Little Athletics ACT for a total of 7 years including the past 4 seasons . Peter is the Chair of numerous Committee’s for Little Athletics ACT including both the Competition and Technical Committees. U15 boys Combined Events Referee for the 2019 ALAC in Hobart. Part of the Weston Creek Little Athletics Management Committee assisting at both training sessions and competitions throughout the season.
Paul Lever (2020): Track Referee at a number of Athletics West Country Championships, State Relay Championships and State Combined Event Championships, State Track and Field Championships. Was appointed to the Track Umpire team for the Athletics Australia 2020 National Cross Country Championships. Paul is not only highly regarded at State level but also by the official’s fraternity and is President of Bunbury and Districts Little Athletics Centre.
Brett Gillow (2021): Brett volunteers at all State meets, working on both the administration of the events and acting as a field/track referee as required. Brett Gillow volunteered for all three meets during the 2020-2021 season, travelling across the state at his own expense to assist with the delivery of these events. In 2021, Little Athletics Tasmania also held the three State Championship events across the three regions of the state. As with the All State meets, Brett Gillow attended all three events, always one of the first to arrive and assist with set up, and usually one of the last to leave at the end of each day.
Brett regularly facilitating Officials courses at Centres to ensure volunteers are confident to assist with running sites on a weekly basis. Brett mentor’s Officials at State events, offering guidance and support as they progress from officiating at Centre level to State level. 2 Coles Little Athletics Australia Official of the Year Nomination Form
Brett has volunteered as the State Team Manager for the Australian Little Athletics Championships from 2017-2019. Brett is a qualified Walks judge and is always happy to assist with judging walks events at both Centre and State level. Additionally, Brett has been active in educating Officials in Walks judging, and area that is often hard to attract new people to. He is a Level 2 coach and coaches a small squad of athletes in the Launceston area,
Brett is a former President, Education and Publicity Officer of the South Launceston Little Athletics Centre, the largest Centre in Tasmania, where he served on the Committee for a total of 10 years. Brett was a member of the Little Athletics Tasmania Board of Management from 2016 – 2020, where he acted in the positions of Development and Competition Director. In 2020, the LATas Board bestowed a Distinguished Service Award on Brett for his contribution to Little Athletics in Tasmania.
Leanne Ryan (2022): Leanne’s 24-year (and counting) involvement in Little Athletics commenced at Werribee Little Athletics Centre (WLAC) in 1999 with her first child, Chris, starting Under 6’s. With a young family in tow, Leanne managed to do her club “rostered” roles without any concern or thoughts of hiding in the crowd. Her first official role at Werribee commenced as the On Track Coordinator in 2003, when her second son Paul commenced as an Under 6. Barely a year went past at Werribee where Leanne didn’t have an active role in the running of the Centre. On Track Coordinator, Back Straight Official, Technical Officer, Treasurer, Relays Coach for many years – a role she truly relished. With three sons all competing, Leanne’s involvement at WLAC, as an active parent, spans over 16 years. For her hard work and dedication, Leanne was awarded a Life Membership of WLAC in 2017 and still to this day she continues to have an involvement with the Centre.
In 2006 Leanne took on her first officiating role at Regional Track & Field, assisting in the Call Room before taking over as Call Room Chief. She continues to undertake that role to the present day. Leanne has officiated as Zone 2 Chief at Relays for over 12 years and various roles at all other region events. Western Metro Region coordinators value Leanne’s knowledge and experience enough that for several years now Leanne has been a great sounding board and voice of reason for all Region events.
It became a natural progression for Leanne to be asked to take on roles at State events and by 2009 she managed official roles at all State events – Relays: Zone 2 Chief; Combined Events: Call Room Chief; State Track and Field: Call Room Chief; Cross Country events and Road relay events: various roles. Since beginning her roles at Region and State Events, Leanne has only missed one State event. For Australian Little Athletics Championships (ALACs), Leanne has often supported Team Vic Management at several ALAC’s held throughout the country, having attended in Hobart, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth (in her capacity as an LAVic Board Member’s wife). In 2014 LAVic hosted ALACs at Lakeside Stadium and Leanne was appointed in a Chief Official’s Role, as the Clash Marshall. In 2022 - again in Victorian - Leanne performed the role as Call Room Chief.
Matthew Vine (2023): Matt has been a lead official for Little Athletics in WA over the last decade acting as Competition Director for the WA Junior Championships and is a core part of the Ridgewood Little Athletics program.
In addition to his core officiating role, each year at Ridgewood, he prepares a free championship kit for participants to help Little Athletes understand the competition rules and prepare for competitions throughout the season. Matt is a crucial part of helping Athletics West delivery their summer season in 2023, leading the way as the competition director for multiple championships.
Matt used his long service leave to volunteer hours in the Athletics West office, alongside staff to help prepare and delivery our major championships. Matt also volunteer his time as a team manager for our WA state team competing at the Australian Little Athletics Championships in Melbourne.
Gary Barton (2024): Gary has been a committed to LAQ official for 10 years. Officiating at all levels of Little Athletics competitions, from ALAC to State and Regional carnivals many in his usual position as Chief of Long and Triple Jump.
Gary is one of the most positive officials you will come across on the arena. He is a fantastic role model for younger officials and a friendly and welcoming face to those jumping the fence to lend a hand. He is also a great mentor for new officials wanting to learn more about Little Athletics events. Although based just north of Bundaberg (about 5 hours north of Brisbane), Gary regularly travels to Brisbane to volunteer his time at our events.
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We are committed to a positive future for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and to honor their ongoing cultural and spiritual connections to this country and recognize the role and value of culture.
