Dr Jeff Brown
The 2014 National Masters tournament in New Zealand was a great success despite the interesting extremes of weather. The Wellington Hockey Association tackled the hosting task with enthusiasm and was rewarded by the favourable feedback from representative masters hockey participants who came from all over New Zealand to compete in the mens and womens competition, in ages ranging from over 35’s to over 60’s. Ann Margaret Campbell CEO of Wellington Hockey Association put a team of dedicated workers together to meet the needs of players, officials and supporters which will have the effect of raising the organisational benchmark for this event in years to follow.
It was in attending this event as a Go Hockey News representative that I heard about the umpire who while officiating in a game at the National Masters event in Palmerston North two years ago saved the life of a masters’ player who collapsed on the field at half time with a heart attack. Assisted by another Doctor who was playing also in the game, the over 60’s player can now live to tell of the experience. The ‘life saving’ umpire was Dr Jeff Brown who in his ‘day job’ is one of New Zealand’s leading Paediatrician. He is the Clinical Director – Child Health, MidCentral DHB and General Practice.
It is not the first time Dr Brown’s skills have been called upon in extraordinary circumstances. He was one of the first doctors on the scene after the Christchurch earthquake on 22 February. Dr Brown was running a course on Advanced Paediatric Life Support on the 14th floor of the Grand Chancellor Hotel when the quake hit. After breaking out of the building he and a team of colleagues spent the following 24 hours tending to the shocked and badly injured at a makeshift triage centre in Latimer Square which he headed up.
Christchurch devastation
For his efforts he was recognised in the Christchurch Earthquake Awards which was presented on the 18 December 2012.
Just as his efforts are acknowledged in the community so is his contribution to hockey. Manawatu ‘s Jeff Brown has an impressive umpiring and officiating record that includes;
- umpiring at the 2012 International Masters World Cup in London
- judge at the men’s tournament at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games (officiating at the Gold Medal match between Australia and New Zealand)
- technical official at the 2012 Champions Trophy in Melbourne.
The highlight of his umpiring career was when he was judge of the men’s gold medal match at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. A full stadium, the prime minister and the president in the stands, and fanatical Indian fans all contributed to the excitement of the occasion.
But when all is said and done the question is what sort of umpire is Jeff (jokingly). The answer is found in the recorded comments of Hockey Manawatu operations manager Warren Banks who is quoted a s saying Brown’s skills as a doctor helped him relate to what happens on the pitch. “The thing going for Jeff Brown is that he’s a top physician, a top paediatrician. Therefore he has all the mental acumen in dealing in paediatrics, he has the ability to relate to people, to understand them.”
It is humble people like Dr Jeff Brown that Go Hockey News wishes to acknowledge who love their sport of hockey and give much to making their community a better place. Finally Dr Brown wrote an Ode to the Heroes of the Christchurch earthquake. It is a great read. Click on the banner below
