VINE NAMED LITTLE ATHLETICS AUSTRALIA OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR
Published Fri 17 May 2024
Ridgewood Athletics Centre Official Matthew Vine has been recognised for his commitment to the Little Athletics community. He received the Official of the Year Award at the Little Athletics Australia Awards in Adelaide last month.
Presented at the Coles Little Athletics Australia Hall of Fame, the award recognises an official who makes an outstanding contribution throughout the athletics season and contributes positively to the overall morale of the official’s fraternity.
In an interview with Danae Gibson on RTR FM, Vine describes the award as an honourable achievement in his career, “it’s an absolute honour to be the Official of the Year. I have loved volunteering with Little Athletics, it is so much fun to be able to do that.”
“Being a part of a sport that is so highly regarded around the world is a fantastic opportunity,” Vine said.
The WA official has had a fruitful career officiating athletics from the grassroots of Little Athletics right through to the World Stage. Throughout 12 seasons of volunteering, Vine has had the opportunity to officiate in many competitions around the world.
“When I travel, I am normally a Field Judge, working on field events and being a part of a team of officials to deliver those events. Some of those events I take on the Chief role, being in charge of field sites and then locally I am also a part of the Competition Management Team, so being involved in the overall running of competitions from the control room.”
Vine has established himself as one of the state’s most accomplished officials having been appointed to roles at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, the 2018 Oceania Masters Athletics Championships, World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships, and multiple Australian Championships.
Showing no signs of stopping any time soon, Vine will next head off to Gothenburg, Sweden as an International Volunteer Official for the 2024 World Masters Athletics Championships in August later this year.
No stranger to awards in this field, Vine was also awarded Athletics West Official of the Year in 2021 and the Athletics West Merit Award for the 2022/2023 season. He has also been a finalist for the Athletics Australia Official of the Year Award in 2019 and the RSM Australia Community Sport Volunteer of the Year at the 2023 Sports West Awards.
With many more years ahead as a Volunteer Official himself, Vine wants to encourage others to get involved in the sport.
“Officiating is such a great opportunity to give back to the community and be part of a sport that can take you to so many different competitions and experiences,” Vine said.
“The volunteer community is a small community, and the parents of the athletes support that community by helping us out, but we would love more and more people to be involved in the actual volunteer community to help us out each week or on the odd occasion if that is all that people can offer.”
To hear Matt's complete interview with RTR FM, click HERE.
You can follow all athletics action via the Athletics West Facebook and Instagram pages.
For more information on how you can get involved in athletics, contact Athletics West on 08 6272 0480 or via admin@athleticswest.com.au.
By Imogen McDonald, Athletics West
Additional Reporting by RTR FM
Posted 17 May 2024
