VALE - Mr Graeme Reddaway

Graeme started playing lacrosse in 1948 at the age of nine, following his older brother Roy, to play for Malvern and was selected in the Malvern Blacks at the age of 16; a mammoth achievement as Malvern was the powerhouse club at that time.

Graeme represented Victoria at the 1965 carnival in Perth where he was awarded the Don Hobbs Trophy (Best player at the carnival) and selected in the Australian All-Star team. During 1966 Graeme and wife Dorothy moved to Brisbane as Graeme had been promoted to manage a publishing business, but that didn’t stop him playing lacrosse and was flown back to Melbourne to play in the grand final that year.

Graeme and long-time Queensland lacrosseur, Harold Evans, restarted lacrosse in Queensland in 1966, which continued for approximately 5 years. Even though he wasn't playing lacrosse in 1967 Reddas was selected in absentia for the 1967 Australian touring team to play in the inaugural World Championship in Toronto and joined the team at Sydney airport, despite never having trained with the team!

The Reddaways' returned to Melbourne in the early 70's and commenced refereeing in 1981 and later retiring from refereeing circa 2004, having refereed State League finals from 1983 through to the mid 1990's. Selected to officiate in three World Championships, he only refereed in two (1986 Toronto and 1990 Perth) as he was seriously injured in a fire in 1988.

He later became Chair of Australian Lacrosse Referee Association (ALRA) at a critical time in the 1980's and oversaw the unification of rules and interpretations along with a national focus on refereeing.

Graeme was appointed Referee in Chief for Australia from 1991-1995, joined the Board as a Director of Officiating and Coaching of what was then ALC from 1996-2003, then served as President from 2004-05, and in 2006 was appointed Director of Indoor Lacrosse.

Reddas was awarded a life membership of ALRA in 1999 and life membership of the Malvern Lacrosse Club in recent years.

Graeme Reddaway was the first Australian to represent his country as a player and a referee, and is arguably the best combination of player and referee Australia has produced.

Graeme was highly competitive and determined, never afraid to say what he thought and never afraid to make those tough calls, on or off the field, and never one to take a backward step. After the game he was always up for a glass of beer and always had that menacing, impish smile on his face, and above all he loved lacrosse and gave it his best.

RIP Reddas - Gone but never forgotten! Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends at this time.