{{Short description|Australian doctor and rugby union referee (1928–2008)}} {{Use British English|date=September 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox person | name = Roger Vanderfield | honorific_suffix = AO OBE | image = Roger-Vanderfield.jpg | alt = | caption = | birth_date = 1928<!-- {{Birth date|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | birth_place = | birth_name = Ian Roger Vanderfield | death_date = 25 September 2008<!-- {{Death date and age|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth date) --> | death_place = Sydney, Australia | alma_mater = University of Sydney | spouse = Margaret | known_for = | occupation = Doctor, medical administrator<br /> rugby referee and administrator }}
'''Ian Roger Vanderfield''' AO OBE (1928 – 25 September 2008) was an Australian doctor, and a rugby union referee and administrator. Vanderfield refereed over 1200 games, including 32 test matches and internationals.<ref name="NSWRU"/>
==Medical career== A doctor by profession, Vanderfield graduated from the University of Sydney in 1952 and was a member of the Faculty of Medicine from 1973 to 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usyd.edu.au/alumni/about/profiles/1950s.shtml|title=Roger Vanderfield OBE AO |date=16 December 2006|publisher=University of Sydney|accessdate=29 September 2008}}</ref> He was the Chief Medical Superintendent of Northern Sydney Area Health Service.<ref name="NSCCH">{{cite web|url=http://www.nscchealth.nsw.gov.au/media/02oct022007.shtml|title=Farewell to "Vindin House" at Royal North Shore Hospital|last=Saker|first=Emily|date=2 October 2007|publisher=Northern Sydney Central Coast Health |accessdate=29 September 2008 |url-status=live| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080719080034/http://www.nscchealth.nsw.gov.au/media/02oct022007.shtml <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 19 July 2008}}</ref>
Vanderfield co-wrote the centenary history of Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sherington|first=Geoffrey|author2=Vanderfield, Dr Roger |title=A Century of Caring – the Royal North Shore Hospital 1888–1988|publisher=Horwitz Grahame |location=Sydney|year=1988|isbn=0-7255-2104-X}}</ref> He was also the hospital's Honorary Archivist.<ref name="NSCCH"/>
==Rugby achievements== In the 1980s, Vanderfield was President of the New South Wales Rugby Union and the Australian Rugby Union.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rugby.com.au/news/rugby_mourns_the_passing_of_dr_roger_vanderfield,121041.html/news/latest/section/21893|title=Rugby Mourns the Passing of Dr Roger Vanderfield|date=29 September 2008|publisher=Australian Rugby Union|accessdate=29 September 2008}}</ref>
As chairman of the International Rugby Board Vanderfield was instrumental in establishing the first Rugby World Cup.<ref name="NSWRU"/> The Australia and New Zealand Rugby Unions had launched a joint proposal to introduce a World Cup. There was reluctance from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Vanderfield flew to South Africa at his own expense and convinced SARU not to vote against the proposal. South Africa abstained and other unions came on board. Eventually the proposal was adopted by a vote of eight to six.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/obituaries/high-achiever-on-and-off-the-field/2008/10/01/1222651165881.html|title=High achiever on and off the field|last=Stephens|first=Tony|date=2 October 2008|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=3 October 2008}}</ref>
==Honours== 250px|thumb|Vanderfield Building – Royal North Shore Hospital Vanderfield was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1976 New Year Honours, "[f]or services to medicine and sport".<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=46777|page=21|date=30 December 1975}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1108462|title=Ian Roger Vanderfield OBE|date=1 January 1976|work=It's An Honour|publisher=Australian Government|accessdate=29 September 2008}}</ref>
He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the 2006 Australia Day Honours for service to the community through the delivery of health care services at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, and to Rugby Union football.<ref name="AD2006">{{cite web|url=https://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/AD06.pdf|title=Australia Day 2006 Honours List|website=gg.gov.au|access-date=26 August 2022|archive-date=8 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408075248/https://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/AD06.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1131326|title=Ian Roger Vanderfield AO|date=26 January 2006|work=It's An Honour|publisher=Australian Government|accessdate=29 September 2008}}</ref>
Vanderfield was elected a life member of numerous Rugby bodies.<ref name="NSWRU"/> On 24 October 2011, he was posthumously inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame for his role in the creation of the Rugby World Cup.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.irb.com/history/halloffame/newsid=2060049.html#rwc+legends+inducted+into+irb+hall+fame |title=RWC legends inducted into IRB Hall of Fame |publisher=International Rugby Board |date=26 October 2011 |accessdate=26 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027230745/http://www.irb.com/history/halloffame/newsid%3D2060049.html#rwc+legends+inducted+into+irb+hall+fame |archivedate=27 October 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
The Vanderfield Building at Royal North Shore Hospital is named after him.<ref name="NSWRU">{{cite news|url=http://www.nswrugby.com.au/MediaExtranet/News/2008/September/NSWRugbymournsthepassingofseniorlifememberDrRogerVanderfieldOBE,AO.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006083235/http://www.nswrugby.com.au/MediaExtranet/News/2008/September/NSWRugbymournsthepassingofseniorlifememberDrRogerVanderfieldOBE,AO.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 October 2008|title=NSW Rugby mourns the passing of Dr Roger Vanderfield OBE, AO|date=28 September 2008|publisher=New South Wales Rugby Union|accessdate=29 September 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
==Trophy donor== The B.A.R Trophy was presented by three leading Sydney rugby union referees, H.B.('''B'''ernie) Freeman, A.T.('''A'''rthur) Tierney and I.R.('''R'''oger) Vanderfield, who travelled to Canberra regularly during the 1950s to conduct examinations for referees. The trophy is an engraved pewter mug presented each year to the most improved referee of the Australian Capital Territory Rugby Referees Association. The award is intended to encourage ACT referees to better themselves and to express the gratitude of the donors for the hospitality and friendship extended to them by the members.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://actrefs.rugbynet.com.au/verve/_resources/B.A.R_Trophy.doc|title=THE B.A.R TROPHY|publisher=actrefs.rugbynet.com.au|accessdate=21 February 2009}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==Obituary== *{{cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/obituaries/high-achiever-on-and-off-the-field/2008/10/01/1222651165881.html |title=High achiever on and off the field |last=Stephens |first=Tony |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media Limited |date=2 October 2008 |accessdate=28 April 2013 |url-status=live |archiveurl= https://archive.today/20130428151400/http://www.smh.com.au/news/obituaries/high-achiever-on-and-off-the-field/2008/10/01/1222651165881.html?page=fullpage%23contentSwap1 |archivedate=28 April 2013}}
==External links== * {{World Rugby Hall of Fame|704828|IR Vanderfield}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vanderfield, Roger}} Category:1928 births Category:2008 deaths Category:Australian rugby union referees Category:Australian healthcare managers Category:World Rugby Hall of Fame inductees Category:Officers of the Order of Australia Category:Australian Officers of the Order of the British Empire Category:University of Sydney alumni Category:Academic staff of the University of Sydney Category:ARU referees