Kerry Franklin has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Vivienne Triplett Umpire of the Year Award, recognising her outstanding service, leadership, and sustained excellence in softball officiating at state, national, and international levels.

Franklin’s career spans more than two decades at the highest level of the sport. She was appointed to officiate at the ISF Women’s Softball World Championship in 1998 before earning selection for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, an honour reserved for only a small number of Australian umpires. More than 20 years later, she continued to demonstrate elite performance when selected for the WBSC U-18 Women’s World Cup in 2024, highlighting her longevity and ongoing excellence on the international stage.

Nationally, Franklin has been entrusted with some of Australian softball’s most high-profile appointments, including multiple Grand Final Plate Umpire roles at events such as the Open Women’s Gilley’s Shield National Championships, U23 Women’s National Championships, and Over 35 Women’s National Championships. In 2022, she achieved Level 8 Umpiring Accreditation, recognising her advanced technical expertise and professionalism.

After returning to umpiring in 2017 following a break from the sport, Franklin quickly re-established herself among Australia’s most respected officials. Since then, her achievements have been recognised through induction into the Softball Victoria Hall of Fame, Life Membership of Softball Victoria, and being awarded the Order of Australia Medal for her services to softball.

Beyond the field, Franklin has made an exceptional contribution to umpiring development. She has led education programs, delivered clinics across multiple associations, conducted state championship assessments, managed allocations for major events, and served extensively on the Victorian Umpiring Committee. Known for her generosity and reliability, she continues to mentor officials and support competitions whenever needed.

The 2025 Vivienne Triplett Umpire of the Year Award acknowledges Kerry Franklin’s enduring impact on the sport, her leadership within the officiating community, and her unwavering commitment to excellence.

On behalf of Softball Australia and the broader softball community, we sincerely congratulate Kerry on this well-deserved award, recognising her outstanding commitment to the game at all levels.