Highlighting his achievements from last year, the Junior Sportsperson gong is Greatbatch’s latest in a long list of accolades, and he is also the first sporting official, rather than player, to win the award.

“It’s nice to be recognised in the Orange community, [officials winning] doesn’t happen very often,” he said.

“I’m very humbled and honoured to achieve it.”

In 2014, Greatbatch had a breakout year, most notably becoming the youngest referee in the history of touch football to obtain a level six - international accreditation, after being ranked eighth at the National Touch League in March, at just 17 years and three months of age.

He was also selected to officiate at the 2015 Federation of International Touch World Cup, officiated at the State of Origin and Interstate Touch Challenge and represented Australia at the 2014 USA Nationals.

VIDEO: Billy Greatbatch speaks with Michelle Cook about his award:

In terms of rugby league, Greatbatch continued his training with the NRL Referees Academy and made his Group 10 premier league debut, officiating Cowra Magpies’ final round clash with Blayney.

Greatbatch, after a host of other awards this year, said he had “sort of” expected the gong, but not after he’d realised the calibre of nominees he was up against, and added his time as a touch referee is just about up.

“I didn’t realise Charlie Bubb had done as much as he has, that was a bit of an eye opener,” Greatbatch said.

“And a lot of the other kids in there too like Bailey Ferguson and Eva (Reith-Snare), and a few others in there who have done some amazing things for their age.

“It’s going to come to a stage where I’m going to have choose one or the other, and league will be where I go at the end of it.

“Ultimately that’s where a full-time career is, and as much as I love touch that’s where I’ve got to go, but until I’m asked or forced to make that decision I’ll be balancing touch and league as best I can.”