Officials play a vital role in ensuring that events can run across so many Victorian venues on any given week – some officials, you might be familiar with from your local competition, and others you may have seen at the sport’s highest level. There is no singular path into officiating and, regardless of background and what brings them to athletics, the contributions of all is immeasurable. We offer them our sincerest thanks.
Here is your chance to get to know just a few of those who keep the wheels of our sport turning!
Interested in joining them? – Find out more!
Name: Andrew Duncan
Centre: Waverley/Mornington
Club: Athletics Waverley
A member of Waverley Little Athletics in the 70s, followed by 25 years (and a Life Membership) with Athletics Waverley, Andrew would go on to have further involvement as the parent of two children at Mornington. Volunteering was part of the Duncan fabric, with Andrew’s parents assisting at athletics, netball, and football clubs, before ‘AD’ took up the family cause. Working his way through a series of high profile events – including as a technical official at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games – Andrew’s current goal is “to be involved in a Comp management role at the Brisbane 2032 games”.
Name: Andrew Pryn
Centre: Cranbourne
With both parents Life Members of Cranbourne Little Athletics, and older siblings already joined, involvement in athletics was hardly a choice for Andrew. He’d have fifteen years at his local, in a variety of roles, before taking some time away; returning once his niece began the sport. After a stint working for LAVic, and at the prompting of Debbie Baskin, Andrew began officiating. When asked what keeps him coming back, “The people, hands down… There’s always great support and a real sense of camaraderie”.
Name: Debbie Voogd
Centre: Ringwood/Nunawading
Club: Ringwood
Competing for Nunawading as a child, Debbie returned to the track at Ringwood when one of her sons wanted to join Little Athletics with his friends. A physical education teacher by trade, Debbie recognised that a centre couldn’t run without volunteers, and that she had a knowledge base to be able to help. Volunteering her time at multiple levels of the sport, Debbie cites officiating at ALAC in Melbourne as a highlight, but when asked what keeps her coming back, she says “I keep coming back for the friendships I have made and continue to make and also to see the smiles on the faces of the athletes. My kids will say I love athletics more than they ever did. It is a great association to be involved in”. Still an active competitor in her preferred throws disciplines, Debbie’s goal is to continue to officiate (and be fit enough!) for many years to come.
Name: John Gilbert
Centre: Williamstown
Club: Williamstown
A lifelong participant in athletics, John’s introduction to the sport was watching his father, a sprinter, train and compete, and getting to run with him in the park. Competing until only recently, John turned to officiating as a way to stay involved. Starting when his kids were at Little Athletics, and with a strong knowledge of the rules, John progressed quickly, officiating at the 2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championship in Bathurst, an event that he describes as a highlight – “To see the Africans race over an extremely challenging course in extreme heat at the pace they would run if they were on the track was unbelievable!”. He hopes for further international opportunities, including the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.
Name: Pam Drake-Noden
Club: Glenhuntly
Joining Glenhuntly Women’s Athletic Club in 1963 as a subjunior, Pam has maintained an active involvement at the club ever since. Athletics runs in Pam’s family, with “four generations competing in athletics, my parents in NZ, my elder son for Glenhuntly and one of my grandsons in Alabama US. Hopefully another grandson will start competing in Melbourne this season”. A World Athletics Bronze Referee and Bronze Starter, Pam notes the 2000 Sydney Olympic and Paralympic Games as highlights of her officiating career so far.
Name: Rob Belli
Centre: Croydon/Yarra Ranges
Competing as a member of Croydon in the 1970s, Rob loved Little Athletics and hoped to share a similar experience with his kids, who would go on to join the Yarra Ranges Centre in 2000. Wanting to follow in his father’s footsteps, Rob was drawn to officiating. Speaking of his dad, Rob tells “he was a Little Aths volunteer/official for almost 30 years, and is a Life Member of Croydon LAC”. With a passion for race starting, Rob is still a regular at centre, region, and state meets – you may also see him out and about at your local in his role as LAVic Development Officer.
Name: Ronda Jenkins
Club: Brunswick
Still one of the fastest Australian women to traverse the 100 yard distance – and only just outside the world record of the time – Ronda got into athletics, simply, because she liked running. A pathway into Masters competition wasn’t for her though, so she joined a committee, which then led to officiating. Ronda has an extensive highlights reel, beginning in 1996 at the 6th IAAF World Junior Championships in Sydney, spanning the Sydney Olympics and the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. She’s still a regular (and enjoys) the Australian and Victorian Championships, but you might not see her – she’s usually working admin in the offices atop the stadium. When asked if she has any officiating goals, she jokes ‘Just to keep going as long as I am able and not be filed away along with the paper work’.
Name: Sam Graham
Centre: Bendigo
Club: Eaglehawk
Following older siblings to Little Athletics at Bendigo, Sam was a regular assistant to his parents who were the local race starter and age group manager. Now officiating for Athletics Bendigo himself, Sam enjoys the environment, making particular note of the people – including those who he counts as mentors. Sam’s officiating highlight so far is his first Zatopek in 2024, but is now working toward his World Athletics Bronze, with the goal “to one day be an official at a Commonwealth Games or Olympic Games, aiming for Brisbane 2032”.
Name: Stacey Hall
Centre: Werribee
Club: Western Athletics
It didn’t take Stacey long to join her local littles’ committee, eager to contribute to a sport that was bringing so much joy to her daughter. Since then, she’s held most officiating roles around the venue, but now manages weekly programming, and hopes to test her skills as part this year’s Relay Open Day. A valued contributor, who finds reward and fulfilment in member’s improvement – “The smiles when they accomplish their goals makes me want to keep helping” – Stacey has now also joined her senior club committee.
Name: Terry Swan
Club: Victorian Race Walking Club
Like so many officials, Terry’s beginnings in the sport came as a parent to his children at Little Athletics. Compelled to lend a hand and assist in the delivery of a quick program, he now finds purpose in assisting those chasing their goals – “I like helping and seeing athletes develop, it gives me a sense of satisfaction, knowing I am contributing to their success”. Now a World Athletics Bronze Level official in his preferred race walking (and studying for his Silver accreditation), athletics has taken Terry to many far-away places, and provided highlights spanning indoor officiating appointments in New York State (USA), and photographer duties at a World Cup Race Walk meet in Taicang (China). Terry aspires to officiate at further international events.
Name: Zoë Eastwood-Bryson
Club: South Australian Racewalking Club
A South Australian native, Zoë was introduced to athletics at school before going on to join the Central Districts club, where she competed in the javelin and discus events. Volunteering at the South Australian Racewalking Club as a lap scorer for a member, and recognising that, like so many clubs, help was needed, Zoë went on to join, holding the president’s role, and pursuing race walking judging; although, when not on the course/track, you’ll likely find her in the call room. Awarded the Athletics Australia 2019 Official of the Year and 2023 South Australian Sport Awards: Official of the Year, Zoë has officiated at multiple levels of our sport, including the Paralympic Games, World Athletics Championships (Open, U20 and U18), World Athletics Team Race Walking Championships, Commonwealth Games, International Race-Walking Events in China and Japan, and National and State events in Australia. There’s another event that Zoë has been involved in too: ‘As an athlete your dream is always to compete at an Olympic Games. I was never going to make it as an athlete but did as an Official, Race Walk Judge, at the 2020 (2021) Olympic Games in Japan’.
Zoë notes the many wonderful friends she has made through officiating, in Australia and overseas, as a highlight of her involvement in athletics, also recalling appointment as the Chief Race Walk Judge for the 2023 World Championship in Budapest: ‘It wasn’t until the Racewalking Events had finished that I was advised by WA Head of Competition Management that I was the first female Chief Race Walk Judge appointed to a World Championships. That was a very special moment and something that I am proud of’.