‘Just a beautiful person’: Ex-umpire bids heartbreaking farewell to Herald Sun journalist Sam Landsberger

A former footy umpire has paid an emotional tribute to Sam Landsberger, praising the Herald Sun sports journalist for the sensitivity and genuine care he showed during his investigation into abuse in the game.

A former female footy umpire has paid an emotional tribute to Sam Landsberger, fighting back tears as she remembered a “beautiful person”.

Christine Gent was one of the women beloved former Herald Sun reporter Sam – who died when he was struck by a truck on Tuesday – spoke to during his 2022 investigation into a toxic culture female umpires were subjected to.

“He was just a beautiful person,” Ms Gent said, her voice occasionally trailing off.

“I was going through such a bad time at that point, with my trauma, and speaking to him there was just no judgement.

“I don’t even know how to explain it, I just instantly felt comfortable with him.”

Christine Gent opened up to Sam Landsberger about her experiences while umpiring in a suburban football league. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Sam spoke to Ms Gent after he had been leaked a secret 64-page report which revealed female umpires had been groped, sexually assaulted and racially vilified.

The AFL, which funded the University of Sydney’s report into declining female participation in the game, wanted to keep the report from the public.

Ms Gent praised Sam for making the women who had suffered abuse the voice of his story and for writing without spin or agenda.

The award-winning Herald Sun journalist was struck and killed by a truck on Tuesday morning. Picture: Supplied

“He was trustworthy and he really wanted things to change,” Ms Gent. “It wasn’t about him. He just made it all about the umpires and everything that was written in that article was exactly what (had) come out of all of our mouths, there was no spin, no gotcha moments, it was all just plain facts that we’d given him and he’d reported.”

Tribuets at site of Sam Landsberger’s fatak accident. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

What stood out most to Ms Gent was Sam’s genuine care and compassion when she told him about her traumatic experiences of sexual harassment which led to her leaving her 31-year career.

“When I spoke to him the first thing he said to me was ‘Are you actually okay?’ He genuinely meant it.”

Sam was revealed to have been talking to his mum Anne at the moment he was struck.

Ms Gent said Anne and her husband Jake, a long-time Western Bulldogs doctor, had raised a wonderful man.

“His mother and father are to be commended on raising such an outstanding young man.”

The driver who fatally struck the beloved journalist has been charged with failing to provide a blood sample to police.

Sam will be remembered at a funeral service on August 26.