Goulburn Murray AFL has thanked SCA for their quick response and support, after umpire Greg Sidebottom passed away during a weekend match early last April.

Greg Sidebottom was officiating a match between Ardmona and Undera football clubs on the 2nd of April, when he suffered from cardiac arrest and died. Greg was considered as a mentor by many within the sporting community.

Through the SCA ClubCare Acess Program, crisis care chaplains were quickly dispatched to the clubs. On the 5th and 7th of April, chaplains Bruce Claridge and Dallas Terlich held a debrief with each club’s Umpire’s Association. Terlich also spoke with some of the boundary umpires and maintained communication with the league.

Bruce Claridge said that the response was very positive, and that they were extremely happy with what SCA had done and how quick they were to respond.

GVFUA President Darren Meek thanked SCA in the AFL Goulburn Murray media release, saying “Thank you also to Bruce Claridge, Dallas Terlich and the team from Sports Chaplaincy Australia in particular for their efforts in attending training and offering counselling support which has been of great assistance in helping our members immediately deal with the impact of Greg’s loss”.

ClubCare provides chaplains to clubs during time of crisis. To find out more, watch SBS interview’s with SCA about Club Care.