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SACPSSA History by Geoff Skein and updated by Mark Bowman

An association probably existed before 1964 in that there was a Netball play-off each year between the winners of the various “Orders” competitions. This was organised for the end of the season between teams from the Dominican, Josephite, Mercy and Marion Associations.

In 1967 I became involved on behalf of the Dominican School at Semaphore to help organise this play-off. Following that carnival, and after some lobbying within the various Orders, a meeting of representatives from all interested Catholic Primary Schools was held at St. Mary’s College, Franklin Street. The response was good and from that meeting the suggestion of combining into areas rather than Orders, and forming into six zones, was accepted. I was appointed as Chairman and Gus Walker, the organiser of the Josephite Association as Treasurer.

This could be looked upon as the commencement of the present Association in that it regionalised schools and made organization much easier. In 1968 this new system came into operation but, for several years, it existed only for the organization of netball. In fact, from memory, it was the Catholic Primary Schools Netball Association until about 1971.

My involvement during these years was mainly with the two Dominican Associations which had formed for inter-school competition. These catered for Athletics, a Football and Netball interchange with Our Lady’s School in Ringwood , minor sports carnivals and an annual inter-school Fun Day held each year at Cabra.

In 1971, the two Dominican Associations combined making an association of 15 schools and then introduced Basketball, Tennis and Soccer. Also, about this time, the C.P.S. Netball Association changed its name to the Catholic Primary Schools Sports Association, and included Volleyball and Rounders as summer sports on a trial basis.

In 1972, at the request of the Catholic Secondary Girl’s Association, the first swimming carnival was held at North Adelaide with 15 schools in 2 sections.

In 1976, the Dominican Sport Association disbanded and functions were transferred to the C.P.S.S.A.

1977 saw the first of the Athletics carnivals and Cricket was also introduced.

In 1980 the Chairmanship went into the capable hands of David Collyer and it was during this time that the Association Constitution was introduced and the current logo was adopted. Also, the groundwork was laid for a salaried position through CEO to assist with the organization of Association events. This was seen as necessary owing to the increase in participation and possibly also the foreseen problems associated with the thrust for equal opportunity in children’s sport and complications created by Commonwealth funding of children’s sport.

It was during this time that the Association had introduced ‘open’ competition in athletics and swimming and this had been received with mixed feelings.

At the Association dinner at the end of 1983, Ian Jones announced the approval of a position at CEO from the commencement of 1984. An office was established at “Ellangowan” and remained there until the CEO moved into the new offices at the Catholic Diocesan Centre in Wakefield Street.

In 1984, Mark Bowman accepted nomination as Association President, as it had now become through definition in the Constitution, and under him the Association has grown to its present form.

The mid to late 1980s saw the introduction of Cross Country, Touch, Team Handball and Volleyball to the Association program with the main focus being on student participation.

These new sports thrived without diminishing the existing competitions on offer while providing opportunities for mixed sex competition in line with the thrust from the Equal Opportunity Commission.

The 1990s has been a decade of consolidation with a steadily increasing number of schools and students competing each year in all the carnivals. In this time also, the Association lost the services of Geoff Skein as Executive Officer and Ross Habib took over the role of President in 1995. Ross capably guided the Association until February 1999 when Darren Elliott accepted this position.

Under Darren Elliott’s leadership the Association has continued to grow in the new century with an expanded Athletics, Swimming, Netball and Team Handball programme as well as the introduction of a Championship Competition at the annual Touch carnival. Over 13000 students participated in our carnivals in 2009.

Under new funding arrangements, in conjunction with the Catholic Primary Principals’ Association and the inclusion on the Executive Committee of a Principal Representative, the SACPSSA has introduced Professional Development for teachers into its schedule, led by Principal’s Representative Craig Fosdike. The first Professional Development day was held in September 2003.

As the first decade of the twenty-first century drew to a close, the Association, still under the astute guidance of President Darren Elliott, (made a Life Member in 2006), continued to develop its role as Professional Development provider to teachers in Catholic Primary Schools. In partnership with Shane Pill, Physical Education Studies lecturer at Flinders University, the SACPSSA conducted research into the development of Fundamental Movement Skills in students from a selection of primary schools. From this data the Association set about supporting teachers in developmental programmes aimed at enhancing these vital skills at the primary level.

In 2009 the Association held its first Primary Years PE/Health conference in association with ACHPER SA. Over 100 teachers from all education sectors attended this full day event at Flinders University. The Association was now leading the way in PE and Health with professional development for teachers in SA and has welcomed over 300 teachers to these courses since 2003.

In late 2008 the SACPSSA celebrated 40 years of service to Catholic Primary Schools with a Gala Dinner at the British Hotel, North Adelaide. Founding pioneers of the Association, Geoff Skein, Sr Mary Byrne and David Collyer were inducted into the Association’s ‘Hall of Fame’. Members also acknowledged long serving (14 years) Clerical Officer, Ric Trutwin.

Since 2009 the association has forged ahead strongly with existing programmes continuing to run successfully. Narelle Dew took over the role of President in 2011 and has guided the Association capably since. Narelle, at the time of typing in 2019, continues in the role of President of SACPSSA. Professional development for teachers  continues to be a strong part of our programme, highlighted by a now annual State Conference, held at Flinders University in conjunction with ACHPER, which has averaged 130 attendees from all primary school sectors.

The Association has also introduced an ‘Honorary Life Membership” which recognizes the contributions of PE staff who over a minimum period of 15 years have promoted and supported participation of students in the activities offered by the SACPSSA.

SACPSSA ushered in a new era in 2018 with the re-introduction of the position of Executive Officer. With the retirement of Hall of Fame recipient and legendary Clerical Officer, Ric Trutwin, at the end of 2017, Darren Elliott took on the role of Executive Officer to guide the association into the next phase of its history. The Executive Officer became the role responsible for the full organisation of the SACPSSA Carnival and Professional Development Programmes, as well as the responsibilities associated with the financial and budgetary management of SACPSSA.

The year 2018 also saw a change in the funding model for SACPSSA. In the years leading up to 2017, SACPSSA was granted funding from the SACPPA (SA Catholic Primary Principals’ Association) Primary Pool Funding. However, from 2018, SACPPA approved a new funding model for SACPSSA in the form of a student levy. Catholic primary schools are levied a set amount, as approved annually by SACPPA, according to their Year 3 – 6 enrolment. This funding structure has ushered in a new era of financial security for SACPSSA and will allow the association to continue the positive growth of its carnival and professional development programmes.

The years 2019 and 2020 have seen the introduction of three new sports to the carnival programme: Tennis HotShots, Lacrosse and Cricket. The SACPSSA / ACHPER (SA) Agreement continues to expand, offering more professional development opportunities to staff and students in SA Catholic primary schools. And in March of 2020, SACPSSA will take its first carnival to a country area with the Section A Swimming Carnival to be conducted in Clare.

Three new Hall of Fame members were inducted at the end of 2017: Mark Bowman, Craig Fosdike and Ric Trutwin. Three more Hall of Fame inductees were welcomed in late 2019: Flavio Zandona, Paul Panos and Narelle Dew.