On 27th August 1963, an informal meeting of persons interested in exploring the possibilities of establishing a new referees association in the Sutherland Cronulla District was held at the Cronulla Caringbah Leagues Club.
The secretary of the Sutherland Cronulla Junior League, Mr M. S. Matthew opened the meeting and called for an expression of opinion as to the support such a move could expect from referees. The unanimous feeling of the meeting was that the establishment of a new association could be carried out with success.
A committee, consisting of a Chairman, Mr J. Burns and a secretary, Mr R. Sandeman was elected to investigate the feeling of the various official bodies concerned towards the formation of a new association, and to determine procedure to be followed if favourable consideration was given to the suggestion by these bodies.
On the following evening a report was made to the St George District Referees Association by Mr Burns who was advised by that association to write to the New South Wales Rugby Football League for further advice, and to the St George District Club requesting that a meeting be convened of representatives of the District Club, the St George Referees Association and the proposed new association.
A reply from Mr Harold Mathews, secretary of the New South Wales Rugby Football League, was received on 11th September advising that office bearers should be elected and a constitution drawn up and submitted to the district club.
On 12th September, a further informal meeting of the Sutherland Cronulla referees was held and officers were elected. Mr Burns and Mr Sandeman were returned to the positions of President and Secretary respectively. Mr J. Stokes was elected Treasurer and Mr P. Jennings elected Publicity Officer. It was decided to submit to the District Club a constitution written along almost identical lines to the excellent St George Referees Association constitution and the Executive Officers were charged with this responsibility.
Notification was received from Mr F. Facer, Secretary of the St George District Club, on the 10th October 1963, that the proposed constitution had been endorsed by the District Club and forwarded to the New South Wales Rugby Football League for adoption.
A meeting, as requested by the St George Referees Association was convened at the St George Leagues Club by the secretary of the St George District Club and was attended by Mr Facer and Mr L. Kelly, the President of the District Club, Mr F. Erickson, Mr A. Cole, and Mr B. Wales, representing the St George Referees and Mr Burns, Mr Sandeman and Mr Stokes representing the Sutherland Cronulla referees. The main discussion of the meeting centred around the question of boundaries of the new association. Each speaker was given opportunity to express his views but after considerable discussion the meeting was left deadlocked and the fixing boundaries was left to the New South Wales Rugby Football League without any recommendations being submitted.
On 14th November 1963, Mr Facer informed the secretary that the constitution of the Sutherland Cronulla Referees Association had been adopted with minor alterations and that the boundaries of the Association for eligibility of membership would be those governing the St George District Club.
At a meeting of the Executive Officers on 28th January 1964, it was decided to hold the Inaugural Annual Meeting of the Sutherland Cronulla Referees Association at the Cronulla Caringbah Leagues Club on Thursday 13th February 1964 at 8.30pm and members, prospective members and representatives of official bodies were invited to attend.
Today, the new referees association is named the Cronulla Sutherland District Rugby Football League Referees Association Incorporated.
The association conducts its meetings at Sylvania Bowling Club, affilliated wth NSWRLRA and member bodies of Cronulla Sutherland District Junior Rugby Football League.
Foundation Members
W. Agnew B. Balderson J. Burns R. Cummins
B. Dean L. Dodd H. Ford C. Gilchrist
P. Jennings A. Sandeman R. Sandeman J. Stokes
G. Taylor E. Thompson M. Torzillo K. Whatley