People Like Lita Are The Heart And Soul Of The Riddell Umpires

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Published on Friday, 20 June 2014 09:33

Week in, Week Out, Lita Cooney puts her time and heart into the Riddell Umpires and it is for this reason, in 2013 she was awarded her second Bob Croxford - Best Club Person Award.

In 2013, Lita (also known as Leet, L or Coondog) became heavily involved in what can only be known as Kenny's Kitchen. Lita took on the gignormous task of aiming to feed 50+ hungry mouths after training each week. Lita along with Ken, aim to provide a filling meal while providing varity each and every week. This requires Lita putting in hours of work at home. Lita's job doesn't end there, she spends hours in the kitchen every wednesday night, serving meals and cleaning up (a task she should not have to do in 2014 if the rest of us step up). Lita has also been a key member of the organistation team for the Riddell Umpires Social Functions. Last year she was heavily involved in the organisation of the Last Man Standing Day as well as the night at Tabcorp Park, one of our excellent sponsors. Her efforts don't go unnoticed and are greatly appreciated.

Lita took up umpiring in 1998, after being asked by Ken Freeman if she was game enough to try. Lita was teaching circuit and aerobics classes at the time and Kenny was one of her clients (now try and get the picture of Kenny in licra out of your mind). Lita decided to give it a go and has not looked back. She started as a Boundary Umpire and umpired the Reserves Grand Final in 2001. Lita had a short break from umpiring in 2002 and 2003 however she returned in 2004 as a Goal Umpire and went on to umpire the VAFA U/19 Grand Final that year. The following years saw her umpire the U/18 BFL Grand Final in 2005, RDFL Reserves Grand Final in 2006 and RDFL U/18 Grand Finals in 2007 and 2008. When asked about Grand Finals Lita had the following to say "I would love a Senior Grand Final but at this stage it is too much hard work. I like to have to much fun in my games".

Lita has had plenty of games to have fun in. She is the first female umpire at the Riddell Umpires to reach 500 games and currently sits 20th on the overall games tally.

Outside of umpiring, Lita has a new house on 1 Acre of land and she loves getting out and maintaining the Garden. She is the mother of 2 children and has 4 grandchildren that she adores. Lita also puts on her mothers hat within the umpiring group at times. When asked about this, Lita had the following to say "When I am with other younger females I do try to keep the gentlemen in line so that we can reflect a better image towards them".  

When quizzed about whether she thinks other people especially women should give umpiring a go her reply was "I do wish others especially females young and old could see what I see in umpiring and join. Getting out, meeting people, group sport as well as your own and you get paid to do it"

Lita has thoroughly deserved her 2 Best Club Person Awards in 2006 and 2013. Everyone at the Riddell Umpires really appreciates the hard work that Lita puts into our association because without people like Lita it wouldn't be the place that it is to today. So thanks for tremendous work Lita, we hope for our sake you continue on well into the future.