Rugby Australia wishes to acknowledge the sad passing of Australian rugby refereeing figure John Miner OAM on Wednesday at the age of 97.
Miner devoted more than six decades of service to the game and leaves behind an extraordinary legacy that has shaped generations of match officials across Newcastle and the wider Australian rugby community.
As well as personally officiating more than 100 first grade games in Newcastle, where he is a life member of the Newcastle Rugby Union Referees Association, Miner was a highly regarded referee coach, mentor and administrator.
He served for many years as the Head of Referee Selectors for the Australian Rugby Union and was a Referee Selection for the 1987 and 1991 Rugby World Cups.
In recognition of his outstanding contribution to Rugby Union, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1989.
Rugby Australia joins the Newcastle Rugby Union Referees Association and the NSW Rugby community in mourning John's passing and celebrating a remarkable lifetime of service to the game.
