Sharon Arnold
The late Sharon Arnold was not only a true trailblazer but one of the finest referees to officiate the game in this country.
Her long and decorated journey began in Wangaratta in country Victoria as a junior, took her to Kilsyth where she served as referee advisor for four decades and right around the world.
Arnold made her international debut in 1995 and would officiate on the world stage until her final game in 2006. Across that time, she officiated the 2002 FIBA Women’s
World Championships and World Wheelchair Championships in 2002 and 2006.
There were many firsts in her history-making career, Arnold was the first woman to referee in the NBL and a Paralympic Games gold medal match, fittingly on home soil in Sydney in 2000. Four years later in Athens, she would add the 2004 Paralympic Games bronze medal game to her lengthy list of achievements.
A long-time WNBL referee who oversaw more that 200 games, Arnold was made a life member of the league in 2005-06, becoming just the second official, after the legendary Eddie Crouch, to be awarded the honour.
Her professionalism, skill and relationships with, and respect she earned from, the players were also on display in SEABL across hundreds of games.
Arnold’s contribution to the game was celebrated and recognised with life membership to the Technical Officials Commission (2007) and Victorian Referees Wall of Fame (2018).
Following her passing in April, today we welcome her family as we recognise and celebrate a wonderful life and lifetime contribution to basketball.
