Local sports star, Mason Colwell, was named Young Official of the Year at the annual NSW Sports Awards night at Bankwest Stadium on June 17.
The Peninsula Touch Association referee coordinator was recognised for his efforts in officiating the sport at major tournaments.
At just 20 years old, Mason is a Level 6 Referee and is a referee at four different Touch affiliates.
Colwell said he was honoured to receive the award but was unable to attend the ceremony, with his parents attending in his absence.
“Winning the award was a special and humorous moment – I was sitting at the pub waiting for dinner and I managed to flick on to [the] live stream right when my award was being presented,” Colwell said.
“The people near me on the table were asking ‘what are you doing’ and telling me ‘get off your phone’.
“I told them, ‘I’ve been nominated for an award and I’m watching the ceremony’.
“Then my name got called out and I had to pause the live stream to make sure it was me.
“I sat there with my jaw dropped.
“The whole table was now asking, ‘What’s going on’, so I went to pass my phone around and dropped it in someone’s gravy!”
He said he is now setting his sights on selection for the Youth Trans-Tasman squad for 2022 and the World Cup squad for 2023.
Sports NSW said Colwell is a ‘wonderful leader who has created a supportive culture and dedicates time to mentor and nurture the next generation of referees’.
‘He regularly supports inter-school Touch competitions and is consistently selected to referee at major tournaments, including Grand Final and State of Origin matches.’
The referee was also named Young Coach/Official of the Year at the annual Central Coast Sports Awards night back in March.
Maisy Rae