The award recognises a referee who has demonstrated significant development, commitment and improvement throughout the year, and is regarded as one of TTRA’s highest individual honours.
Snell’s progression has been reflected in both her performances and appointments during a standout 2026 season.
After being recognised among Townsville’s emerging referees in 2025, she continued her rise through the senior ranks this year and was selected for the ANZAC Day Challenge alongside some of the region’s leading officials.
Her year so far will now culminate with an appointment to Saturday’s Women’s 1st Grade Grand Final between Brothers and Sharks, where she will referee alongside Denise Weier and Ella Henningsen.
It will be Snell’s first Women’s 1st Grade Grand Final appointment.
Snell was also named the Leading Female Youth Referee, completing a memorable night in which she received two of TTRA’s major awards.
Lachlan Carey and Denise Weier were recognised as TTRA’s Leading Male and Leading Female Referees respectively.
Carey, a member of Touch Football Australia’s National Referee Squad, has again been a fixture at the highest levels of the game and will take to the field in his seventh consecutive Men’s 1st Grade Grand Final on Saturday.
Weier will make her third consecutive Women’s 1st Grade Grand Final appearance and her seventh overall, adding to two previous Men’s 1st Grade Grand Final appointments.
Jack Driehuis was named the Leading Male Youth Referee after an outstanding year of achievement.
Driehuis, who earned his National Referee grading at TFA's National Championships in March, was appointed to the Men’s match at the ANZAC Day Challenge and will make his Men’s 1st Grade Grand Final debut on Saturday.
Max Hoover and Chloe Fitzgerald received the Leading Male Junior Referee and Leading Female Junior Referee awards respectively.
Hoover’s continued development included making his Men’s 1st Grade refereeing debut during Round 4 of the Colliers Shield season, and he has been appointed to Saturday’s Men’s 2nd Grade Grand Final.
Fitzgerald will also feature on Grand Final day after earning an appointment to the Men’s 4th Grade decider.
The season also saw four referees make their first appearances in the Colliers Shield’s top grades.
Trevor Fitzgerald made his Women’s 1st Grade debut on 29 March, followed by eldest daughter Shanae Fitzgerald on 12 July.
Hoover made his Men’s 1st Grade debut on 12 April, before Mac Broad joined him among the grade’s first-time referees on 28 June.
Kayla Hardy was named the Most Valuable Referee for the Monday Mixed competition, while Bob Pentecost received the corresponding award for Tuesday Over 30’s.
Jasper Lyons and Josie Broad were recognised as TTRA’s Most Promising Male and Most Promising Female Referees.
Lyons will continue his development with an appointment to Saturday’s Women’s 4th Grade Grand Final.
The awards were presented at the TTRA Awards Dinner at Kirwan Sports Club on Friday night, recognising the performances, improvement and contribution of referees across Townsville Touch Football competitions.
2026 TTRA referee award winners
Glen Wilson Award for Most Improved Referee — Abbey Snell
Leading Male Referee — Lachlan Carey
Leading Female Referee — Denise Weier
Leading Male Youth Referee — Jack Driehuis
Leading Female Youth Referee — Abbey Snell
Leading Male Junior Referee — Maxon Hoover
Leading Female Junior Referee — Chloe Fitzgerald
Most Valuable Referee, Monday Mixed — Kayla Hardy
Most Valuable Referee, Tuesday Over 30’s — Bob Pentecost
Most Promising Male Referee — Jasper Lyons
Most Promising Female Referee — Josie Broad