Touch Football Australia (TFA) congratulates Ken Golden OAM after he was bestowed TFA Life Membership honours at the TFA Annual General Meeting. TFA Life Membership is one of the highest individual honours that can be bestowed upon a member, and Ken’s induction comes after four decades of dedication to our sport.
Ken began playing Touch Football in 1977 before taking up the referee’s whistle full-time in 1982. He took his skills off the field in 1992, appointed to the NSW Referee Panel, and as the Director of Referees with the Australian Defence Force Touch Association (ADFTA), a role he still holds today. He was awarded ADFTA Life Membership in 1993.
His knowledge and passion for the sport saw him appointed to the TFA National Referee Panel as a Referee Coach where he played an integral role developing referee education resources. For his efforts, Ken was awarded the Australian Sports Medal by Her Majesty the Queen in 2000, for his contribution to Touch Football in Australia, as well as the inaugural recipient of the ‘Touch Football Australia Volunteer Medal’ in 2016 recognising his work in the community.
Ken’s influence extends internationally through his role with the Federation of International Touch (FIT) Referee Commission as a Referee Coach, providing advice, assistance, and delivery of courses – as well as attending the FIT World Cup in 2015 and 2019.
“As a volunteer you’re always involved in the sport, and you want to contribute where you can to a great community activity,” Golden said.
“As a referee, your career doesn’t end once you go off the field as you can go into coaching and it’s a great opportunity and experience.”
“It’s all about giving back to the sport and growing the next generation.”
TFA CEO Jamie O’Connor praised Ken’s contribution to the sport.
“We’re extremely grateful to have quality people like Ken involved in our sport and are indebted for his service. He has dedicated over forty years to our sport and remains a trusted confidant for our organisation to this day.”
“Achieving life membership is the pinnacle for our sport, as it is with most sports, and Ken becomes just the 16th person to receive it. He is in very elite company and deserves every accolade he gets” O’Connor said.
Ken remains heavily involved delivering education and training across the nation both in-person and digitally, working with TFA Alliance States to deliver coaching advice, discussions, and development plans.
Congratulations Ken.
TFA Life Members
Phil Smith (1986)
Dick Fairbairn (1994)
Barrie Keenahan (1994)
Dr Paul Webb (1996)
Cary Thompson (1996)
Brian Rooney (2004)
Bob Dyke (2010)
Ray Vawdon (2010)
Paul Eggers (2011)
Ian Matthew (2011)
Peter Rooney (2011)
Cathy Gray (2012)
Dennis Coffey (2012)
Bill Ker (2014)
Lou Tompkins (2014)
Ken Golden OAM (2023)
