The VFUA Courage Award is awarded to members who have overcome great personal adversity in the past 12 months and demonstrated a commitment to umpiring despite the challenges they have faced.
If a nomination for this award is received throughout the year, a vote is conducted at the AGM by attending members – a majority vote will see the nominee awarded the Courage Award.
1977 Ken Quinn
1978 John Moss
1979 Robert Dunball
1980 Dennis Gollop
1981 Bruce McLellan
1982 Glen James OAM
1983 Steven Donohue
1984 Ian Clayton
1985 Kevin Smith
1988 Ian Haynes
1994 Darryl Hammond
1995 Andrew Malcolm
1996 Dan Beard
1998 Sam Nathan
2001 Paul Anderson (dec)
2004 Peter Balding
2005 Bruce McCorkell
2011 Bruce McCorkell
2011 Matt Sanders
2012 Damien Cusack
2013 Leigh Keen
2013 Josh Mather
2015 Ben Macdonald
2015 Gareth Verberne
2016 Rob Young
2017 Jamie Grindal
2017 Damien Main
2017 Simon Plumridge
2023 Lachlan Wright