Katanning umpire stalwart Arthur Todd recognised for 25 years of service during AFL’s Community Umpiring Week

For Katanning footy umpire stalwart Arthur Todd, being recognised for 25 years of waving the flags is just a fraction of his storied career between the goalposts. Todd was one of more than 17,000 umpires across Australia who were celebrated for their unwavering contributions to community football across the nation during the AFL’s Community Umpiring Week last month. But the 72-year-old has been standing between the two tall posts in rain, hail or shine for the past 42 years, umpiring in more than 30 league grand finals and featuring in AFL curtain raiser games for the West Coast Eagles on four occasions. Todd said he was proud to be recognised for his volunteered efforts in a job he adores doing. “I was absolutely stoked when I received the email that I had won the trophy,” he said. “I do it for the enjoyment, I don’t get paid for it — I do it because I love it.” Now, Todd follows Katanning Wanderers around in the Upper Great Southern Football League umpiring their home and away matches. Despite giving countless double-finger salutes for nearly five decades, Todd said he has no plans to hang up the flags. “My wife said I am getting too old but as long as I can still do it and do a good job, I’ll keep on doing it,” he said. “I still enjoy it and think I still do a good job of it at the moment, so I will keep doing it. “I reckon I’ve umpired over 1200 games in my time and I just have to see how my body allows me to continue doing it.” Among Todd’s long list of achievements, he has received recognition of service from the WA Football Commission, initiated the umpires panel in the Great Southern Football League and umpired games at the WACA Ground and Subiaco Oval.