Lacrosse Australia Award Certificate of Merit
Lacrosse Australia is pleased to announce the deserving recognition of the Certificate of Merit will be awarded to Kellie Morley and Suzanne Kirkby in 2021. Kellie’s and Suzanne’s service and achievements will be celebrated at LWA’s 2021 Senior Dinner and Awards Night to be held on the 1st of October at Optus Stadium.
Kellie has provided sustained service to lacrosse, in particular, her role and achievements as an umpire and technical delegate at State, National and International levels. Kellie also represented Australia at the inaugural U19 Women’s World Championship and continues to volunteer as an administrator with her ongoing service to lacrosse in WA and on the Women’s National Technical Committee.
Suzanne has shown tremendous dedication and long term achievements through her service as an umpire and technical delegate at State, National and International levels and as a volunteer with roles on various officiating committees and Directorship on the Lacrosse WA (West) Board.
We are thrilled to recognise Kellie’s and Suzanne’s service and achievements and thank them for their ongoing contribution to the sport of lacrosse. The LA also kindly thanks LWA for their nomination of both Kellie and Suzanne.
If you would like to attend the dinner please contact and book tickets through your WA club or the LWA office.
For further information regarding Suzanne’s and Kellie Service please see below.
Suzanne Kirkby
Suzanne has an extensive career in umpiring spanning nearly thirty years. Suzanne started playing lacrosse in 1977 making several junior and senior WA State teams. Suzanne’s officiating experience stems back to 1990 at her first Junior Championship in Tasmania up to the present where she has officiated at over thirty National events in varying capacities from umpire to Technical Delegate/Assessor.
Suzanne has officiated at many international events including the following:
1999 Liaison Officer USA Team World Cup Perth
1989 U/19 World Championships Perth volunteer
2003 U/19 World Championships Baltimore USA, Umpire (gold medal game)
2007 U/19 World Championship Canada, Umpire
2009 World Cup Prague Czech Republic, Umpire
2011 U/19 World Championship Germany, Umpire
2013 World Cup Canada, Umpire
2015 U/19s World Championship Scotland, TD/Assessor
2017 World Cup England, TD/Assessor
2019 WL U19 Women’s World Championship, Peterborough, Ontario
Sue has umpired WA’s domestic competition for decades and was on the Lacrosse West (Lacrosse WA) Board as Director of Officiating for seven years. Sue has given up limitless hours for the sport of lacrosse including mentoring juniors through the Junior Officiating Program and has been a member of various Umpiring and Technical committees in varying capacities. Suzanne was awarded Lacrosse WA Life Membership in 2011 and in a career highlight, she was awarded the 2017 FIL Women’s Officiating Emeritus Award at last year’s FIL World Cup.
Kellie Morley
Kellie has had an illustrious lacrosse career as a player, official and administrator. Kellie started playing lacrosse at 11 and two years later was selected in her first WA State Team. Kellie played in 17 State Teams being named captain on numerous occasions and always displayed the highest level of sportsmanship towards umpires and fellow players. Kellie was selected for the 1995 U19 Australian Women’s team to compete in the inaugural World Championship in the US. As we know, Australia won the gold medal and Kellie was an integral part of their team as the goalkeeper.
In 1996, Kellie became the youngest umpire to officiate at a National Championship. Kellie continued to umpire at club level with her umpiring career on hold whilst she continued to hold a position in the state team. Since 2012, Kellie has umpired at least one or two ALA Championships each year from U15’s to seniors obtaining selection as the ALA All Star Umpire on three occasions.
On the international stage, Kellie has officiated at the following Championships:
2013 ASPAC Tournament, Beijing (Championship Final)
2015 FIL U19 World Championship selected Umpire
2016 Hong Kong Open (Championship Final)
2016 Australia v England Test Series (Game 2 and Game 3)
2017 FIL Senior Women’s World Cup
2018 Hong Kong Open – Umpire, Clinic Coordinator and On-field Mentor
2019 WL U19 World Championship, Peterborough, Ontario
In 1995 Kellie was nominated to the Lacrosse West (now Lacrosse WA) Board. Kellie was LWA’s Director of Women’s Lacrosse from 2012 to 2016, Director of Officiating for four years and is now LWA’s Deputy Chairperson. Kellie is currently the WA representative on the Women’s National Technical Committee. Kellie was awarded Lacrosse WA Life Membership in 2003 and in 2018, she was a Top 3 Finalist for “Official of the Year” at the WA Sports Star Awards. Kellie continuously makes herself available to mentor junior umpires and is an excellent role model for our up and coming officials. Kellie is currently instigating the education and training process for our players and officials for the new women’s rules. Kellie has spent countless volunteer hours ensuring the women’s competition continues to flourish and LWA is extremely fortunate to have such a supportive member in our sport.
Photo credit: WA LAX Pic
