A Milestone for Alex: Umpiring and Mentoring in the Tala-Tutone Tour

Newcastle umpire Alex Brown has returned from an unforgettable trip to ‘Ōtūmu‘a, Tongatapu, where she travelled as part of the Tala-Tutone Tour, delivering education, coaching and on-court support to Tongan netball umpires.

Organised by Tonga Netball in partnership with Netball Australia, PacificAus Sports, and the Government of Tonga, the Tala-Tutone Tour marked a significant moment in sporting history. For the first time ever, Tonga hosted its national team on home soil—making it the country’s first official international netball tournament. The event aligned with the 150th Anniversary of Tonga’s Constitution, adding even greater pride and cultural meaning to the celebration.

Among the special moments was seeing the ball carrier—one of the Queen of Tonga’s granddaughters— lead the teams onto court, highlighting the deep cultural importance of the tournament.

On court, the Australian Pathways Team faced off against the Tonga Tala, currently ranked 9th in the world, bringing fast, high-quality netball to passionate local crowds.

For Alex, the tour was a defining chapter:

“This trip was a huge milestone in my personal umpire journey. It was an honour to umpire my first international match in Tonga during such an important celebration of their Kingdom and Constitution. Meeting local umpires and sharing education, insights and rules discussions made the experience truly special.”

One of the standout achievements of the tour was supporting the development of local officiating. Eight Tongan umpires proudly earned their C Badges, marking a major step forward for umpire pathways within the nation.

Alex added:

“Watching their confidence grow across the week was inspiring. I feel privileged to be even a small part of their journey.”

With cultural connection, international competition and professional growth all woven through the tour, the Tala-Tutone initiative stands as a shining example of regional partnership and the expanding strength of netball across the Pacific.