Dennis at the 2018 PPM Reunion

Pratten Park Magpies are saddened to advise of the passing of Dennis Spagarino, aged 70.
Dennis joined the Western Suburbs Referees Association in 1972.
He refereed in Wests juniors until 1979, upon which he was promoted to grade in the NSWRFL.
Between 1984 and 1988, Dennis officiated with distinction in 22 First Grade games and a career highlight being the appointment to the Schoolboy’s Test Match between Great Britain and Australia.
Following his retirement in the middle, he was very involved in coaching Referees and as a Video Referee including State of Origin and Test matches.

He went on to become Chairman of the NSW and Australian Referees Associations.

He later sat on the Board of the NSW Leagues Club and was subsequently appointed Chairman.

For his services to Rugby League, Dennis was awarded Life Memberships of Western Suburbs, NSW and Australian Referees Associations and in 2000 was awarded the prestigious Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australia’s sporting excellence in that year.

Dennis was a proud Pratten Park Magpies Member and a regular attendee at our Reunions.

The Pratten Park Magpies Memorial Sash proudly displayed at Dennis’s home.

The Pratten Park Magpies Memorial Sash was presented to Dennis’s Family by former Test & Origin Referee, NRL Referees Coordinator and Pratten Park Magpies Member, Mick Stone.

‘Think where man’s glory most begins and ends, and say my glory was I had such friends’ – Yeats.