Football umpiring was never on David Harrison’s radar before he took it up some 20 years ago in a spur of the moment decision.
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“I had finished football and was training for marathons, and had no intention of umpiring,” the retired Rivalea production manager after 34 years told The Free Press.
“Wally Martin (retired Riverlea employee) drove past one night on his way to umpiring training, invited me in for a run and I did a game that Saturday. Easy as that.”
Last Sunday, it was number 504 game umpired by Harrison. Number 500 was CDHBU v Murray Magpies at Coreen on April 23, the day before his 64th birthday.
That huge milestone occasion saw a one point win to the locals. “It was a great day,” the highly respected umpire said.
“CDHBU went over the top with a guard of honour and some words before the game and gave me the match ball. Thanks to Scotty (Chris Scott) and Rip (Paul Rippingale) out there. Considering it was Nathan Rhodes’ 100th game I hope I didn’t shade his celebrations!”
Reaching the 500th was a while coming due to Covid years then Dave missed a couple of weeks this season with Covid too.
“I guess it’s something to tick off but footy is about the players, not umpires,” he modestly commented about achieving 500. “And I know a few blokes will be laughing their heads off about me saying that! I’m happy to be still motoring around OK at my age and umpiring provides the stimulus to stay a little bit fitter. I’ve got mates who have done many more.”
Harrison gets sent to manage games in various leagues – Ovens and Murray, Hume, Ovens and King, Tallangatta, Upper Murray, and the Farrer League many years ago. “I love the travel and for me footy is always a day out in the community whether I am at John Foord or Tumbarumba,” he said. “I guess I’ve done 100 O&M senior games which is a big achievement for a plodder like me.
“I’ve done grand-finals in the Coreen, Upper Murray, Tallangatta and Hume Leagues. Best I have managed in O &M seniors is a semi. You need to be a very good runner to do O&M seniors grand-finals, as it should be.”
Grand-finals are highlights of Dave’s career, as well as two Albury vs North Albury ANZAC day games.
“For me, the quiet drive home through the country after a good game, thinking about the day and looking forward to a beer and the couch is always a highlight,” he said.
The more vocal a crowd is the better as far as Dave is concerned. “I love that interaction. And we never want that out of the game - as long as it’s not carried through after the game. Crowds are a lot better now than they used to be, that’s for sure, and there is seldom an issue these days. I think everyone is well aware that the game is short of umpires and it makes no sense to abuse those who turn up to do the job.
“It’s an emotional game with an odd-shaped ball and a lot of rules - so there are bound to be frustrations in the crowd. Have a yell and get over it I reckon! Once I stepped up to O&M there was a noticeable rise in intensity from the crowd - but it’s all part of it and you should feed off that energy, not resent it.”
Recalling his first O&M senior game, he wondered “what in the hell an ordinary footballer like me was doing out here trying to control players as good as this”. “But it was easy.”
Before umpiring, Dave played football at West Coburg in the Essendon Districts and had a couple of years in the seconds at Wahgunyah, rating himself “a pretty hopeless footballer” who “could run, but couldn’t get a touch”, but loved every minute of it though”.
Dave’s current involvement with Amaranth in Corowa has reinforced to him the importance to community health that football is. “Umpires are just a part of that. Resilience pathways such as going to your local football game has immense community mental health benefits that we all share in. I don’t mind if that involves a bit of yelling,” he said.
A Director of Amaranth, Dave has started up some community engagement programs like Friday Night @ the Station, The Men’s Table and Motorcycles for Mindfulness which he really enjoys.
“Somehow I have ended up as a community engagement officer, two days a week in the Bushfire Recovery Zone as an Amaranth representative,” he said. “Again, a spur of the moment decision but it’s very different to pig farming and I really enjoy this new experience.”
Last year Dave started up the Friends of The Corowa National Park Group which has had a couple of events after a slow start due to Covid. He’d like to put more time into that group and important area.
Being busy appeals to Dave. Despite living within walking distance of Corowa Golf Club he took his first swing of a golf club only two years ago and was instantly hooked, “loving the game but I’m frustratingly hopeless at it and play off 28”.
“I try and play every Thursday which isn’t often enough for a beginner but that’s all I have time for at the moment. I’m a complete bird geek so I tend to spend more time looking at birds than golf balls - and I do tend to spend a lot of time in the trees I guess!” A keen trout fisherman, Dave gets to Dartmouth every chance he gets.
Needless to say, the calendar is always full between Dave and wife Debbie, but a GAP year is planned for 2023.
The 500-game umpire has no plans to stop while I’m umpiring OK and enjoying it. “I hate slowing down because I’ve always thought umpiring was about the running. And thank goodness we don’t have to bounce anymore!
“We are blessed locally with big grounds, great surfaces and few wet days - so that helps with longevity. I still look forward to the Monday email with my appointment so that’s a good sign.”
Journalist