TOM STINDL ELECTED AS 2021 LIFE MEMBER OF PENRITH REFEREES ASSOCIAITON

On Monday night at our Annual General Meeting, Tom Stindl was elected as the 2021 Life member of the Penrith District Rugby League Referees Association. This is the highest honour of the Association and thoroughly deserved by Tom. Below is Tom’s road to Life Membership from within our Association, many thanks must go to the Life Membership committee for putting this together. 

Tom joined the Association in 2007, giving him 13 years of unbroken service. In that time, he has made a significant meritorious contribution to the Association, both on and off the field. In recent years, he has been one of our most highly regarded and successful match officials, and a consistent member of the Association’s executive.  

The quality of Tom’s service is reflected in the many different awards he has received over the course of his tenure. In his very first year, he won the Len Manuel Rookie of the Year Award, as well as the Peter Browne Award for the highest Mini Grand Final. This set the tone for a district career that would see him go on to win the Reg Newsome Most Improved Junior Award in 2009, the Michael Grady Junior Merit Award in 2010, the Don Courts Award for the A Grade Division 3 Grand Final in 2014, and the Joe Beacroft Award on three consecutive occasions, refereeing the A Grade Division 1 Grand Final in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Tom was then graded to the NSWRLRA as member 1019 and remains a member of their Elite Officiating Squad today.  

Tom has served the Association in a number of different roles. He was on the Social Committee in 2011, and the Advisory Panel between 2012 and 2014, and again in 2018. He was an Internal Auditor between 2012 and 2014, then becoming the Assistant Director of Finance and Sponsorship in 2015 and 2016, before ultimately stepping into the role of Head of Finance in 2017, a position which he has maintained and served in with distinction ever since. Tom was also a delegate to the NSWRLRA during the 2019 season.  

Tom has always been highly regarded by his peers and coaches and received the Bob Kandelas Referee’s Referee on three occasions, in 2015, 2016 and 2017. This is clearly an endorsement of Tom by his fellow members, as a person who serves the Association in an exceptional manner. 

Since joining the Association, Tom has attended 60.7% of meetings held. It is worth noting that no records are held for meeting attendance in 2010. What is particularly impressive is that between 2011 and 2019, Tom attended an astounding 82.4% of all meetings held.  

Congratulations Tom on being elected, we thank you for your service over the years. 

Tom will be presented his Life Members jacket at the Life Members Presentation night at the end of the 2021 season.