Darren Grimsey - Volleyball
When he found out he had received a National Officiating Scholarship, Volleyball referee Darren Grimsey said he finally felt “recognised as an official”. At 36, the Brisbane-based Telstra Centre Director has spent 24 years a club player and 22 years as a referee, moving up the refereeing ranks and last year officiating at his first international tournament—the South Pacific Games in Samoa. He said the scholarship will help increase his skill levels and international opportunities. It’s a long way from when he first started refereeing at club level, largely to pay for his uniform and travel costs as a player. “I came from an environment where we weren’t very affluent and being a referee was the best way for me to afford to get a head in the game. I’m lucky in that I was ahead [in money terms] instead of it costing me thousands.” Grimsey is proud to “go hard” at every opportunity to advance his refereeing career in the sport that he says is his “love and passion”, and ultimately would like to referee at the 2012 Olympics.
