Many top VFL/AFL field umpires of yesteryear were to attend Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort last Saturday night to celebrate the 70th birthday of 21-game VFL umpire Ken Norris.
Bill Dellar OAM and AFL Hall of Fame, who umpired 251 senior games from 1967 to 1981 which included five grand-finals in his overall tally of 20 finals, was on his way last Friday when, at Euroa, the word came through – the third COVID-19 related lockdown by the Victorian Government.
Dellar, Denis Rich (also 251 games, three grand-finals and John Sutcliffe (211 games, two grand-finals) were among other umpires who were forced into staying at home in Melbourne.
The number of invited guests tumbled from 42 to 26. But John Morgan, from Benalla, who umpired 115 senior games from 1976 to 1983 was there. He wanted to personally deliver his prepared speech about his close friend of nearly five decades.
The 16 enforced absentees were from Bendigo – Ken’s home-town - and Melbourne.
Instead of a large star-studded line-up on a ‘football field’ at YMGCR with field umpires very much in charge, the team comprised the two umpires, a St Kilda cricket mate being this story’s author, and friends from Canberra – Ken’s home for the past some 40 years.
While umpiring a second’s football match in Bendigo, Ken was advised by Bill Dellar, who umpired the senior match, to further his umpiring career in Melbourne.
It was down to Melbourne but with summer fast approaching, cricket at St Kilda was immediately on the agenda.
In addition to umpiring VFL/AFL football, Ken was a keen and competent cricketer. He played with North Bendigo in the BDCA, St Kilda and Footscray in Melbourne District Cricket, and Western District in the ACT Cricket Association.
He played twice against touring West Indies cricket teams. Firstly, in Bendigo in November 1975 as part of a Victorian Country Cricket League team. He made 16 in that game and faced bowlers including Michael Holding, Bernard Julien and Keith Boyce.
He played them again in January 1985 playing for the ACT at Manuka Oval Canberra. He made 49 not out, faced bowlers including Courtenay Walsh, Winston Davis and Roger Harper and proudly boasts: “I currently have a batting average of 65 against the West Indies!”
For over 35 years Ken and his umpiring mates have enjoyed a golf trip to Yarrawonga Mulwala in the off-season. They would always stay in Yarrawonga and play golf at Yarrawonga Mulwala and surrounding courses.
Notwithstanding COVID-19, Ken’s daughters Kate and Lisa, and wife of 48 years Julie, arranged an excellent celebration for the milestone 70th. Speeches were also made by Geoff Strang from the ACT who spoke of Ken’s brilliant high-level work career with the Australian Institute of Sport and of the low handicap golfing achievements. Moose Muir spoke of the early 1970s at St Kilda Cricket Club.
“Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort was a great venue for my seventieth, we were very pleased with their organisation and we look forward to the next visit,” Ken said.