Cricket umpire Simon Taufel was named 'Official of the Year' at the Australian Sports Awards presentation in Melbourne.
Taufel won the award from other stand out officials, Mark Shield (soccer) and Scot Butler (basketball) at a ceremony on Wednesday night.
The 36-year-old said the recognition of umpires and officials is important to continue building the value of sport in the Australian culture.
"I hope that this form of recognition creates awareness that officials are an integral part of the game and encourages other members of the community to look at match officiating as a way of contributing to their chosen favourite sport," he said.
Regarded as the leading umpire in world cricket, Taufel's outstanding performance in 2006 included a third-straight Umpire of the Year award presented by the International Cricket Council as voted by the 10 Test playing captains and the eight-man Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Referees.
Australian cricket also featured in two other categories with Cricket Australia's CricKids Ashes Challenge school resource nominated as a top three finalist in the Sports Information Technology Award, and Australian captain Karen Rolton nominated as Female Athlete of the Year.
Now in their 27th year, the Australian Sport Awards recognise Australian athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and administrators across all areas of the sports sector who have achieve outstanding success in their field during 2006.
