
MEET MIKE
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
In 1975, at the age of 19 he found his true love, in Liz (or Ebe as she is known my many) … They met in the June – and Liz knew it was love because he was the only man that ever asked her out twice. They were engaged in the November and married in the March – quite the whirlwind romance :-)
They got married in Scots Church in the heart of Freo and then hopped in the car and headed for a nice romantic honeymoon in Albany… until they had to turn around and head back to Perth because umpiring training was starting early and he didn’t want to miss it.
In 1981, they welcomed their first born Jamie into the world… although from all reports Mike wasn’t overly helpful because Australia v Pakistan was on TV while Liz was in labour… it was tough but they got through, Jamie was born and off Mike went to umpiring training :-)
18 months later Liz & Mike welcomed their first daughter Kasey - another long labour on a Sunday evening – Mike had a good focus on the TV again – this time to watch “the winners”. At least it was night time so there was no umpiring training to head to.
And then, the final piece of the family puzzle came along in 1986… Liz went into labour with Kendell on a Saturday, and Mike, being the birthing companion pro that he had become… got Liz into the car and dropped her to Attadale Hospital on his way to umpire the Subiaco v Swans game at Subi Oval.
After the match, he headed back to the hospital just in time for Kendell to come into the world. He then proceeded to tell people it was the easiest of the three births :-)
​
Mike’s umpiring became more and more demanding as he started umpiring AFL and would travel to Melbourne most weekends.
His proudest moments were the State of Origin games, the WAFL Grand Finals and the exhibition match he umpired overseas in Portland between Melbourne and West Coast.
He umpired 301 games – including 45 VFL/AFL games, 4 WAFL Grand Finals and 6 State of Origin matches. Mike retired from umpiring in 1992 which was good timing, because a new AFL team, that he had never umpired, was preparing to come into the competition and so the whole family were signed up as inaugural members of the Fremantle Dockers… Mike became a very passionate supporter.
Over his 66 years, Mike was blessed with some of the greatest friends a man could ask for.
He and Liz gave their kids the greatest home environment you could ask for…. their friends became family and their partners Lindsay, Chantelle and Keith were all welcomed like they were his own.
All formal accolades aside, Mike left this world knowing his greatest achievement was that his family was happy and healthy.
His grandchildren, Ryder, Olivia, Ashton, Koa, Ella and Delanie, were his everything.
Celebration is an odd word when faced with such tremendous loss, but that is what a legacy is all about - a celebration of life, of love, of family, of friends.
A reminder to surround yourself with people who wrap their arms around you and lift you up.
An appreciation of lessons learned - in Mike’s case that that any floor is a dance floor, to live life full of happiness, laughter, gratitude, integrity and patience - and always with cheeky grin.
It fills everyone who knew Mike with such pride to know, that even though he is no longer with us, his legacy lives on both in our memories and also helping to make life that little bit easier for people in their toughest days.
​
So from everyone, thank you for supporting the daily grind and the the Mike Ball Legacy Fund.
Michael Dalton Jacob Ball was born at 10am on Monday the 28th of November, 1955 – just twenty minutes after his twin brother Kim. He grew up in a big family with 4 brothers and 2 sisters, all of who he adored.
He went to Sawyers Valley Primary School and Eastern Hills High School until year 10 when he left to start what would become a 20-year career at the Midland Workshops.
He started as a junior worker, before completing his apprenticeship to become a boilermaker and then worked his way up to senior foreman… but it would always be his secondary career after his good friend Peter Pushkookin got him into umpiring Australian Rules Football…. He really found his true passion in umpiring.
