At the 2026 State Titles, a special moment was shared by mother–daughter umpiring duo Nerolie and Peyton Olsson, as they both achieved their B Badge umpire accreditation on the same day.
For Nerolie, who has been officiating State Titles since 2025, it marked another step in her ongoing umpiring journey, while for Peyton it was her first appearance at the event, making the milestone even more memorable.
Having progressed along similar pathways, the pair have continually motivated each other to improve, even sharing a friendly rivalry to see who would reach the next level first.
Nerolie Olsson began her umpiring journey in 2021 at Echuca United, initially taking up the whistle to stay involved in netball as her two daughters started playing.
What started with officiating under 11s quickly progressed, with Nerolie stepping into the umpire coordinator role in 2022 and earning her C Badge the same year. Since then, she has become a regular A Grade umpire across the Goulburn Valley and Murray leagues, with plans to expand into additional competitions this season.
After concluding her playing career in 2024, Nerolie has committed fully to umpiring, earning selection in the Netball Victoria Northern Talent Academy Umpire Program in 2025 as she worked towards her B Badge.
She has gained valuable experience at Association Championships and State Titles, while also seeking out development opportunities such as the Bendigo Strikers program to continue refining her skills.
The chance to achieve her B Badge alongside her daughter was a truly special moment that will not be forgotten.
“It was such a surprise to be offered the opportunity. Neither of us attended the weekend with the expectation that it would be an option. We had always joked about who would get it first. So, to get it at the same time was an extra special treat,” she said.
Looking ahead, Nerolie hopes to continue both playing and umpiring alongside her daughters.
“Now that both of my girls are playing and close to being seniors I hope to get back out on the court in 2027 and have a season playing alongside them both.”
“Umpiring wise I want to keep developing my skills, and to keep working with Peyton and push her to be the best she can be.”
Peyton Olsson began her umpiring journey in late 2021, following closely in her mum’s footsteps, and quickly progressed through the ranks. After starting at local trainings and competitions, she earned her C Badge in 2024 and stepped up to A Grade in the Murray Netball League in early 2025.
That same year, talent identified at the Northern Association Championships and invited to be part of the 2026 Talent Academy Umpire Program and gained valuable experience officiating at Association Championships Finals and the School Sport Australia Games.
In 2026, Peyton reached a major milestone, earning her B Badge at State Titles, where she also officiated finals matches and was recognised with the Rising Star Award.
Starting out at Echuca District Netball Association, Peyton now umpires across multiple leagues, regularly officiating A Grade matches alongside her mum. Alongside her umpiring, she continues to play in the Under 17s at Lancaster and represent Echuca District Netball Association.
“Mum and I achieving our B Badges on the same day at State Titles was one of the best days ever. Because I started umpiring not long after Mum, we’ve been on a very similar pathway for quite a while, always pushing each other to do our best,” she said.
Peyton aims to continue developing her umpiring career and further refine her skills.
“I plan to continue umpiring, taking every opportunity I’m given and continuing to improve my skills. My goal for the next step in my journey is to umpire at the Under 17s Nationals and hopefully be selected for the High-Performance Squad.”
A shared love of netball and umpiring has made the Olsson family journey a unique one, with Nerolie and Peyton continuing to grow side by side in the sport. Their story reflects not only individual achievement, but the strength of mentorship, resilience and mutual support that has shaped their development.
From local courts in Echuca to state opportunities, the mother–daughter duo continue to inspire each other as they progress through their umpiring pathways, united by a passion for the game and a drive to keep improving.
