Whistle blows for 1000 games

BALLARAT Masters footballers formed a guard of honour as umpire Gary Greville jogged onto the Russell Square oval on Sunday.

Greville marked his 1000th game last weekend, after 46 years of “thrilling” senior AFL central umpiring.

“I am feeling fabulous, and jumping out of my skin at 65,” he said.

“Fitness is such an important thing, and the players at the Ballarat Masters are sensational people. As an older citizen now, to be umpiring with older footballers means a lot of fun, jokes, and banter.”

In 1987, Greville represented the Ballarat Football League at senior level, and in 1997, represented the Ballarat Football Umpires’ Association at an interleague game in Geelong.

He’s umpired five BFL grand finals and four Central Highlands Football League premiership games, won Country Victoria’s Most Passionate Football Supporters Award in 2011 as the Redan Drummer, and was nominated for the 1st Legend of Country Football in 2012.

He has also been an umpire with Daylesford Football Club for three years, however, his major career highlight took place a long way from the traditional footy field.

“I had the opportunity to go into Ararat prison under the group Prison Fellowship, and I was able to go in and umpire for the prisoners,” he said.

“Umpiring for those people who had nothing else to look forward to, and relating to those players, was the greatest thing of my career.

“For some of the players, it was the first time they had accepted authority, and there was no trouble in the 13 weeks I’d been in there. That was my finest moment.”

In 1977, he set himself a challenge to become Ballarat’s best all-round sportsman, and has also performed strongly in squash, racquetball, tennis, table tennis, and cricket.