Career
Hartley has been described as "perhaps the most colourful and controversial referee in football history". Hartley began his rugby league career as a player and had three first-grade games with Newtown Jets in 1967 before rupturing his spleen in a reserve-grade match in the same year. In 1969 he became a referee in the Easts junior league and was graded in 1971.
By 1975 he was officiating in the first-grade semi-finals.
He was considered the game"s top referee of the time, officiating in the 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1981 Grand Finals before retiring in 1982.