NSW Refereeing Talent Honoured At Football Australia Awards
Two NSW referees have been recognised for their outstanding contributions to refereeing and futsal at the recent Football Australia Elite Referees Seminar.
Harriet Gee, originally from Football South Coast, was named Female Futsal Referee of the Year, while Sharon McLachlan from Blacktown & Districts Soccer Football Association was awarded Female Referee Coach of the Year.
The Football Australia Elite Referees Seminar brings together officials from the A-Leagues and Australian Championships ahead of the new domestic season.
Across the three-day seminar, officials undertake technical and fitness testing, receive updates on the Laws of the Game and participate in classroom sessions and practical training.
The seminar also provides an opportunity to recognise achievements from the previous season, with a number of awards presented across the elite refereeing pathway.
The major award winners included:
- A-League Women’s Referee of the Year: Isabella Mossin (North West Sydney Football Referees Association & FNSW Referees Branch)
- A-League Men’s Referee of the Year: Alex King (Football Queensland)
- A-League Women’s Assistant Referee of the Year: Lucy Hungerford (Northern NSW & FNSW Referees Branch)
- A-League Men’s Assistant Referee of the Year: Kearney Robinson (North West Sydney Football Referees Association & FNSW Referees Branch)
- Newcomer of the Year: Luke Gennimatas (Football Victoria)
As part of a new Football Australia initiative to recognise the achievements of grassroots match officials, community referees were also celebrated at the Elite Referees Seminar awards function across five categories:
- Community Referee of the Year – Male and Female
- Pathways Referee of the Year – Male and Female
- Referee Coach of the Year – Male and Female
- Futsal Referee of the Year – Male and Female
- Volunteer of the Year
Harriet Gee – Female Futsal Referee of the Year
A member of both the NSW Futsal Referees Branch and FNSW Referees Branch, Harriet Gee is a strong advocate for women in football, particularly within the refereeing space across both futsal and football.
Gee is an active member of the refereeing community, consistently attending training and meetings while also contributing to mentoring programs supporting young officials.
Her refereeing achievements have continued to grow in recent seasons.
In 2025, Gee was appointed to the NSW Futsal Premier League Open Women’s Grand Final.
She attended the National Futsal Championships in both 2025 and 2026, with her efforts at this year’s championships rewarded with an appointment as Referee 2 for the Open Women’s Grand Final.
Beyond her performances on the court, Gee is also recognised as a role model for young aspiring futsal referees and is always willing to support and give back to the wider refereeing community.
Her recognition as Female Futsal Referee of the Year is a reflection of both her performances and her ongoing contribution to developing the next generation of officials.
Sharon McLachlan – Female Referee Coach of the Year
Sharon McLachlan is actively involved in the community football space and began her refereeing journey in 2022 while playing for her local club.
A member of Blacktown & Districts Soccer Football Association, McLachlan’s passion for refereeing and referee development is evident in everything she does.
She continues to work on improving her own knowledge and experience while enthusiastically sharing her insights with other officials.
McLachlan commits countless hours of her own time to improving the experience of local referees in her area and regularly volunteers at meetings and activities representing BCSRB.
As a referee mentor and coach, she provides valuable support to young officials as they develop their skills and progress through their refereeing journeys.
Her positive influence extends across everyone she works with, making her recognition as Female Referee Coach of the Year a fitting acknowledgement of her contribution to the grassroots refereeing community.
Football NSW congratulates Harriet Gee and Sharon McLachlan on their well-deserved national recognition and thanks them for their continued commitment to refereeing and the development of match officials across NSW.
