Bundoora local John Roberts has been named as a finalist for Official of the Year at the 2022 Victorian Sport Awards, for his work officiating lawn bowls.
Following a record number of nominations from the Victorian sporting community, finalists have been announced across 19 categories for the annual awards.
The awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of home-grown sporting heroes at both grassroots and high-performance levels.
Mr Roberts holds the highest officiating accreditation and has been officiating for 20 years across many exciting sporting events, including three Commonwealth Games and four World Championships.
“Officiating provides you with the best seat in the house in terms of the action,” he said.
“I really enjoy meeting people, and the people associated with bowls. It’s a very friendly environment.”
Mr Roberts is one of only two state umpiring coordinators who provide training and guidance throughout Victoria.
He was named as a finalist alongside three other officials, with the winner announced at an award ceremony in June.
Mr Roberts said that the nomination is an acknowledgement of the time and effort that he puts into the sport.
“It shows that my efforts are appreciated at both the state and national level,” he said.
Hannah Hammoud
