One of my favourite personal stories is how I got into umpiring.

It was the Eastern Districts grand final in 1982 between Vermont and Mitcham. I was appalled by the lack of consistency when it came to paying marks, and I remember thinking to myself "I could do better than that!" Unlike most who utter those words - either aloud or to themselves - I acted on my statement.

I was encouraged when I saw Bill Deller on Channel Seven's World of Sport over the summer of 82/83. He advertised an umpiring course which at the time qualified as what we now know as a Level One accreditation. I went along and did the course, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I already loved football, and even though I couldn't play it in a blue fit here was a way to participate in my favourite sport.

I contacted my local junior competition, the Doncaster District Junior Football League, and was asked to come out to their training at Rieschiekes Reserve in Doncaster. I trained and found it hard, but I soon got my first game - an Under 11 game at Greythorn.

Greythorn's ground was a small one - it was their number two oval that I umpired on. I looked the part with one exception. I didn't have a pair of white running shoes or boots yet, and I umpired in a pair of Levi sneakers. That got me the nickname "Levi". I don't remember who Greythorn played or the result - just that I thought I did OK. My father was there for moral support and helped review my game.

I knew I'd arrived though with my second game. This was out at Park Orchards on a much bigger ground. On this day I was observed for the first time, and by half time I was getting a pat on the back from the observer - Laurie Bale. Laurie was a great person and with John Edwards and Graham Matthews they guided me through my first two years of umpiring. I did slow down in the second half - I did say this was a big ground - but I was happy.