John Joseph Trait (1859–1906) was an Australian rules umpire and is considered to be the best umpire of the code from the 19th century.[1]
| John Trait | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | John Joseph Trait | ||
| Nickname(s) | "Prince of Umpires", "Jack" | ||
| Date of birth | 29 August 1859 | ||
| Place of birth | Geelong, Colony of Victoria | ||
| Date of death | 2 November 1906 (aged 47) | ||
| Place of death | Geelong, Victoria, Australia | ||
| Umpiring career | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 1882–1895 | VFA | Field Umpire | |
| Career highlights | |||
Victorian Football Association umpire
editTrait umpired his first game on 22 July 1882 in Geelong in a match between the Geelong and South Melbourne.[2] Despite the travelling side losing, their captain, Mat Minchin, congratulated John Trait after the match, saying: "You are the best umpire we ever had at Geelong".[3]
Trait was considered one of the best umpires in the Victorian Football Association, and was known as "The Prince of Umpires".[1][4][3]
Demand in other states
editTrait was regularly in demand from other states for use in important matches. He was specifically sought out and used as the umpire for the 1889 SAFA Grand Final.
Umpire of intercolonial matches
editTrait would regularly be selected as the umpire of matches between Victoria and South Australia.
Retirement from umpiring
editHe retired from umpiring in 1895.[5]
Personal life
editTrait's life was beset with many tragedies. He was widowed, and his only son and one of his four daughters also predeceased him; additionally, the financial state of his business as an aerated-water manufacturer suffered, possibly because of his extended period of poor health that required frequent medical attention. It was this illness that ultimately took Trait's life, rendering his surviving three daughters orphans.[6][7]
Trait died at his home in Geelong on 2 November 1906, aged 47.[1] Appeals from appreciative football clubs from far and wide were made in Trait's honour to help support his orphaned children.[7] Despite his great personal tragedies, Trait was championed upon his death as being cordial and "generous to a fault" and as "a good man struggling with adversity", with his umpiring ability "only equalled by his impartiality".[8]
References
edit
- ^ a b c "Obituary". Geelong Advertiser. No. 18, 592. Victoria, Australia. 3 November 1906. p. 2. Retrieved 1 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "South Melbourne V. Geelong". The Argus. No. 11, 261. Victoria, Australia. 24 July 1882. p. 7. Retrieved 1 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b "'How's that, Umpire?'". The Argus. No. 14, 690. Victoria, Australia. 27 July 1893. p. 6. Retrieved 1 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "The Late Mr. J. J. Trait". The Age. No. 16, 118. Victoria, Australia. 7 November 1906. p. 7. Retrieved 1 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "South Melbourne". Weekly Times. No. 1, 343. Victoria, Australia. 4 May 1895. p. 19. Retrieved 1 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "OBITUARY". Geelong Advertiser. 3 November 1906. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
- ^ a b "THE LATE MR. J. J. TRAIT". Age. 7 November 1906. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
- ^ "THE LATE MR. J. J. TRAIT". Age. 7 November 1906. Retrieved 2 October 2024.