New Season - updated Website

With the new season fast approaching, it is also time for a huge refresh on the website. The last major website update was 12+ months ago, so this one is long overdue.

Click here to go directly to the website. You'll see a lot of information added regarding 'bios' of our new Committee Members, lots of information about Easter Cricket, lots of photos - including photos from every Easter Event for the last 15 years, and some historical Crockett Shield artefacts from old Melbourne and Adelaide Newspapers dating back almost 100 years. There is also an updated list of Victorian Test Umpires, and soon, we will be adding an updated list of Victorian First Class Umpires, Scorers Records, and (hopefully) even Premier Cricket statistics. These statistics will be restricted to Members only, so if you're not already a VCAUSA Member for this year, now is a great time to join.

Since Easter, there have been some major developments for our Members too:

Chris Grant has been upgraded to a National

Umpiring Contract, and will be making his First Class Debut shortly. Daryl Brigham, Shawn Craig and Phil Gillespie remain on the National Umpiring Panel following strong, consistent performances last season.

Read about Chris' elevation at our Facebook site here.

Legendary Scorer and our Scorer Committee Member Mike Ringham was honoured by the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) by naming the Scorers Box at the Albert Ground, as the M.P. Ringham Scorers Box. Their words were "over the last 50 years you've become figuratively part of the Melbourne Cricket Club's furtniture. Today marks the moment you literally become part of it". Mike has scored 1,200+ matches, including 40 Test Matches. His career began in 1947, and continues today with Scorer Education classes that he runs regularly - truly a lifetime of contribution to cricket, particularly in Scoring. Read about Mike's honour at our Facebook page here, and there's more to come in the upcoming Law 43

Paul Jensen was made a VCAUSA Life Member at our Annual General Meeting on 26th August 2025. Paul's connection with the Association dates back to 1978/79, and he has made an outstanding contribution to Umpiring and to the Association.

Paul with his Life Membership Certificate, with his Wife Dagmar

Paul served 6 consecutive terms as Secretary from 1989 - 1996, he contributed on the Committee of Management from 2021-2024, he mentors new Umpires on-field, and along with his Wife Dagmar, they both have been tireless contributors to the biennial Easter Event with our South Australian colleagues. You can read more about Paul's career here.

Chris James with Ben Brennan, the State Umpiring Manager at the Premier Cricket Awards Night

Chris James was awarded the Umpire Service Recognition Award for 2024-25 at the Cricket Victoria Premier Cricket Awards Night in April. Chris began his career in Melbourne in 1998-99, and has since officiated in over 400 Premier Cricket Matches, including 100 in 1st XI.

Over the past few season, Chris has taken up mentoring of newer Umpires seeking to further their career, and he remains a wonderful mentor to all. Prior to that, Chris umpired in New Zealand too, so his tally far exceeds the 400 matches he has done with us. Read Chris' story at our Facebook site, with more in the upcoming Law 43 too.

Our 2024/25 Awards Night was run at the St Kilda Foottball Club RSEA Park in April, and that was a resounding success with over 100 attendees. It was a great facility and a fun night for everyone. You can read more about it in our 119th Annual Report, that was presented and published at our AGM in August. It is available for all VCAUSA Members to read at leisure. It's packed with 94 pages of information, so if you haven't already read it, grab yourself a cuppa, click here to download it and enjoy.

Lastly, a new Law 43 is also about to hit your screens. Keep a lookout for that in the next few days. There's an exciting new format, with lots on exciting content for you. I'm sure that you'll love it

Happy reading