AFL Canberra umpires to make history

History will be rewritten in AFL Canberra Umpiring on Saturday August 28 at Ainslie Oval when two major milestones will be reached.

When Peter White takes to the field he officiates in his 471st First Grade match in the contest between Ainslie and Eastlake surpassing the all time record of Doug Malcolm whom he equalled last week at the SCG.

This is a record that started out in 1979 when Peter first pulled on the white coat and hat to start what has become a 32 year commitment to umpiring in the ACTAFL/AFL Canberra First Grade competitions.

Those relative newcomers to umpiring would not be aware that Peter has been recognised as the leading Goal Umpire, now immortalised through the presentation of the Jack Perry Award, on two occasions in 1989 and again in 1994.

Peter also became a life member of the Umpire Association at the conclusion of the 1988 season and was awarded the Umpire Association’s highest honour – the Frank Leverett Award in 1996 for his services to umpiring.

Not to be content with that, we will witness only the 15th umpire in ACTAFL/AFL Canberra history to achieve the 200 First Grade game milestone when Greg Healy joins Peter in the march to the centre at Ainslie Oval.

Greg is another umpiring stalwart who commenced his career in Canberra in 1995 and during the 16 seasons that have followed he has been recognised as the leading Field Umpire through the awarding of the Golden Whistle in 2008, and through his contribution to Umpiring the Frank Leverett Award in 2004, the same season he received Life Membership of the Umpire’s Association.

All umpires are invited to celebrate these remarkable achievements on Saturday at Ainslie Oval. The match commences at 2pm.