About

The South Australian Catholic Primary Schools’ Sports Association was founded in 1971.

SACPSSA aims to promote the philosophy of good sportsmanship, to teach students how to win well and lose graciously, and to foster companionship between competitors while promoting a healthy active lifestyle.

Offering a wide variety of team and individual sports carnivals, students are encouraged to participate and compete in the carnivals held throughout the calendar year. The primary sports traditionally include Cross Country, Athletics and Swimming, with team based sports such as Netball, Tennis, Lacrosse and Touch.

The carnivals are organised by the SACPSSA Executive Officer who oversees the planning of each event. With the assistance of school representatives and volunteers, the Executive Officer has the responsibility to ensure each carnival is run successfully. By competing in carnivals throughout the year, students have opportunities to meet and compete against students in their own age group from all areas of the state. For a full list of sports and the carnivals held during the calendar year, please use the Sports & Events menu above, or visit the Calendar page.
SACPSSA Calendar

SACPSSA History

Hall of Fame / Life Membership

Upon completion of a minimum of ten years on the Executive Committee, members will be awarded Life Membership. Honorary Life Membership may also be bestowed upon teachers/support staff/parents who have given outstanding service to Catholic Schools over a minimum of 15 years as nominated by the school and endorsed by the Executive Committee.

Interested in Volunteering?

If you’re interested in helping out in the running of our carnivals or assisting in any way we’d love to hear from you!

Hall of Fame Members

 

 Geoff Skein – 2008

  Sr Mary Byrne – 2008

  David Collyer – 2008

  Barbara Flemming – 2008

   Mark Bowman – 2017

   Craig Fosdike – 2017

  Ric Trutwin – 2017

  Narelle Dew – 2019

  Paul Panos – 2019

Flavio Zandona – 2019

Life Members

 

 Geoff Skein – 1978

  Sr Mary Byrne – 1982

  David Collyer – 1985

  Barbara Flemming – 1986

  Mark Bowman – 1996

  James Meiksans – 1997

  Connie Costanzo – 1997

  Narelle Dew – 2001

  Paul Panos – 2001

  Flavio Zandona – 2001

  Ric Trutwin – 2001

  Darren Elliott – 2006

  Craig Fosdike – 2008

  Jason Mittiga – 2012

  Michael O’Dea – 2012

   Rosie Petrilli – 2018

  Toby Priest – 2019

  Travis Henderson – 2019

  Rick Mackereth – 2019

  Lisa Mahoney – 2021

  Mary Murray – 2021

  James Goldy – 2022

Honorary Life Members

 

  Ray Schliebs – 2011

  Michael Fry – 2011

  Beau Manuel – 2011

  Kym McCarl – 2011

  Jeanette Archer – 2011

  Lyall Murphy – 2011

  John Merrett – 2013

  Mike Buttfield – 2013

  Andrew McKay – 2013

  Leanne Cooymans – 2015

  Ann Chan – 2015

  Luke Taverner – 2015

  Franco Canil – 2017

  Maurice Bucco – 2017

  John Zandona 2021

Year President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Executive Officer Clerical Officer
1972/73 Geoff Skein  – Marg McCarthy Gus Walker  –  –
1973/74 Geoff Skein  – Jan Cocks  –  –
1974/75 Geoff Skein  – Sr. Mary Byrne Jan Cocks  –  –
1975/76 Geoff Skein  – Sr. Mary Byrne Rosemary Imienionek  –  –
1976/77 Geoff Skein  –  –  –
1977/78 Geoff Skein  – Barbara Laing Sr. Mary Byrne  –  –
1978/79 Andy Abele  – Barbara Laing Sr. Mary Byrne  –  –
1979/80 Greg McHugh  – John Greenwood Sr. Mary Byrne  –  –
1980/81 David Collyer  – John Greenwood Barbara Flemming  –  –
1981/82 David Collyer  – Shaf Khan Barbara Flemming  –  –
1982/83 David Collyer  – Anne Barltrop Lyn Dansie  –  –
1983/84 David Collyer  – Marisa Focareta Lyn Dansie  –  –
1984/85 Mark Bowman  – Jim Murphy Angela Tait Geoff Skein  –
1985/86 Mark Bowman  – Lee Misra Monique Curtis Geoff Skein  –
1986/87 Mark Bowman Lee Misra (Ret.) Monique Curtis Geoff Skein  –
1987/88 Mark Bowman  – Alison Rebuli Monique Curtis Geoff Skein  –
1988/89 Mark Bowman  – Helen Maybin Monique Curtis Geoff Skein  –
1989/90 Mark Bowman  – Helen Maybin Martin Coombe Geoff Skein  –
1990 Mark Bowman  – Connie Costanzo Martin Coombe Geoff Skein  –
1991 Mark Bowman  – Connie Costanzo Martin Coombe Geoff Skein
1992 Mark Bowman  – James Meiksans Martin Coombe Geoff Skein  –
1993 Mark Bowman Ross Habib James Meiksans Geoff Skein  –
1994 Mark Bowman  – Ross Habib James Meiksans Monique Curtis
1995 Ross Habib  – *Replaced by  James Meiksans Leanne Cooymans
1996 Ross Habib  – Clerical Officer James Meiksans Ric Trutwin
1997 Ross Habib  – Simon Byrnes Ric Trutwin
1998 Ross Habib  – Simon Byrnes Ric Trutwin
1999 Darren Elliott  – Simon Byrnes Ric Trutwin
2000 Darren Elliott  – Simon Byrnes Ric Trutwin
2001 Darren Elliott Mark Bowman Simon Byrnes Ric Trutwin
2002 Darren Elliott Mark Bowman Rick Mackereth Ric Trutwin
2003 Darren Elliott Mark Bowman Rick Mackereth Ric Trutwin
2004 Darren Elliott Mark Bowman Rick Mackereth Ric Trutwin
2005 Darren Elliott Mark Bowman Rick Mackereth Ric Trutwin
2006 Darren Elliott Mark Bowman Rick Mackereth Ric Trutwin
2007 Darren Elliott Mark Bowman Rick Mackereth Ric Trutwin
2008 Darren Elliott Mark Bowman Mary Murray Ric Trutwin
2009 Darren Elliott Mark Bowman Kathy Cilento Ric Trutwin
2010 Darren Elliott Mark Bowman Kathy Cilento Ric Trutwin
2011 Narelle Dew Mark Bowman Kathy Cilento Ric Trutwin
2012 Narelle Dew Mark Bowman Kathy Cilento Ric Trutwin
2013 Narelle Dew Mark Bowman Kathy Cilento Ric Trutwin
2014  Narelle Dew  Mark Bowman PE Week Come’n’Try Day Rep.  Kathy Cilento  Ric Trutwin
2015  Narelle Dew  Mark Bowman Josh Page  Kathy Cilento  Ric Trutwin
2016  Narelle Dew  Mark Bowman Josh Page  Kathy Cilento  Ric Trutwin
2017  Narelle Dew Mark Bowman Josh Page  Ric Trutwin
2018 Narelle Dew Mark Bowman Josh Page Darren Elliott Darren Elliott
2019 Narelle Dew Mark Bowman Josh Page Darren Elliott Darren Elliott
2020 Narelle Dew Mark Bowman Josh Page Darren Elliott Darren Elliott
2021 Narelle Dew Mark Bowman Josh Page Darren Elliott Darren Elliott
2022 Narelle Dew Mark Bowman Josh Page Darren Elliott Darren Elliott
2023 Narelle Dew Mark Bowman Josh Page Darren Elliott Darren Elliott
2024 Narelle Dew Mark Bowman Josh Page Darren Elliott Darren Elliott

 

 

 

 

Year PSS Rep PDD Organiser Principal’s Rep ACHPER/PE Rep
1999 Craig Fosdike
2000 Michael O’Dea Craig Fosdike Natasha Williams
2001 Michael O’Dea Craig Fosdike Natasha Williams
2002 Michael O’Dea Craig Fosdike Natasha Williams
2003 Michael O’Dea N.Williams, M.Bowman, C.Fosdike Craig Fosdike Natasha Williams
2004 Serge Mensitieri N.Williams, M.Bowman, C.Fosdike Craig Fosdike Natasha Williams
2005 Serge Mensitieri N.Williams, M.Bowman, C.Fosdike Craig Fosdike Natasha Williams
2006 Serge Mensitieri N.Williams, M.Bowman, C.Fosdike Craig Fosdike PD COMMITTEE
2007 Serge Mensitieri N.Williams, M.Bowman, C.Fosdike Craig Fosdike T. Priest, T. Henderson
2008 Martin Hayes Mark Bowman Craig Fosdike / Jason Mittiga T. Priest, T. Henderson
2009 Martin Hayes Mark Bowman Craig Fosdike / Jason Mittiga T. Priest, T. Henderson
2010 Martin Hayes Mark Bowman Craig Fosdike / Jason Mittiga T. Priest, T. Henderson
2011 Martin Hayes Mark Bowman Craig Fosdike / Jason Mittiga T. Priest, T. Henderson
2012 Martin Hayes Mark Bowman Craig Fosdike / Jason Mittiga T. Priest, T. Henderson, J. Goldy
2013 Tom Melingakos Mark Bowman Craig Fosdike / Jason Mittiga T. Priest, T. Henderson, J. Goldy
2014  Josh Page Mark Bowman  Craig Fosdike/Jason Mittiga T. Priest, T. Henderson, J. Goldy
2015  John Merrett  Mark Bowman  Craig Fosdike/Jason Mittiga T. Priest, T. Henderson, J. Goldy
2016  John Merrett  Mark Bowman  Craig Fosdike/Jason Mittiga T. Priest, T. Henderson, B. Keller, J. Goldy
2017  John Merrett Mark Bowman Craig Fosdike /Jason Mittiga T. Priest, T. Henderson, B. Keller, J. Goldy
2018 John Merrett Darren Elliott Craig Fosdike /Jason Mittiga M Bowman, A Marino, N Johnson, T Priest, B Keller, J Goldy, T Henderson
2019 John Merrett Darren Elliott Craig Fosdike /Jason Mittiga M Bowman, A Marino, N Johnson, T Priest, S Hughes,  B Keller, J Goldy
2020 John Merrett Darren Elliott Craig Fosdike / Jason Mittiga M Bowman, A Marino, N Johnson, T Priest, S Hughes,  B Keller, J Goldy, D Pearce
2021 John Merrett Darren Elliott Craig Fosdike / Jason Mittiga M Bowman, A Marino, N Johnson, T Priest, S Hughes,  B Keller, J Goldy, D Pearce, N Skewes, K Pillay, J Marsh
2022 John Merrett Darren Elliott Craig Fosdike / Jason Mittiga  M Bowman, A Marino, N Johnson, T Priest, S Hughes,  B Keller, J Goldy, D Pearce, N Skewes, K Pillay, J Marsh
2023 John Merrett Darren Elliott Craig Fosdike / Jason Mittiga M Bowman, A Marino, N Johnson, T Priest, S Hughes,  B Keller, J Goldy, K Pillay, J Marsh, F Chevalier
2024 John Merrett Darren Elliott Craig Fosdike / Jason Mittiga M Bowman, A Marino, N Johnson, T Priest, S Hughes, J McCarthy, J Goldy, K Pillay, J Marsh, F Chevalier
Year Swimming Netball Athletics Touch Cross Country Handball Volleyball Cricket Rec Footy Modified Soccer Teeball
1980/81 Mark Shadiac
1981/82 Paul Belton Barbara Flemming Brian Clark & Mike Trimboli David Collyer
1982/83 Dave Ellis Sue Marhsall Roy Menner David Collyer Geoff Hallion
1983/84 Dave Ellis Barbara Flemming Roy Menner David Schmidt Geoff Hallion
1984/85 Mark Bowman Barbara Flemming Elaine Dougan / Kim Syrus Geoff Skein David Schmidt
1985/86 Mark Bowman Barbara Flemming Elaine Dougan / Kim Syrus Michael Fry David Schmidt
1986/87 Gino D’Aloia Connie Costanzo Elaine Dougan / Shane Cavanagh Michael Fry Craig Fosdike
1987/88 Gino D’Aloia Connie Costanzo Jeanette Kieboom / Martin Coombe Michael Fry Craig Fosdike
1988/89 Gino D’Aloia Connie Costanzo Martin Coombe / James Meiksans Geoff Skein Michael Fry Craig Fosdike
1989/90 Gino D’Aloia Leanne Cooymans James Meiksans / Ross Habib Brian Clarke Michael Fry Geoff Skein Craig Fosdike
1990 Gino D’Aloia Leanne Cooymans James Meiksans / Ross Habib Brian Clarke Mike Buttfield Flavio Zandona Craig Fosdike
1991 Gino D’Aloia Heather Carr Ross Habib / Damian Hill Paul Panos Mike Buttfield Flavio Zandona Craig Fosdike
1992 Ric Trutwin Connie Costanzo Damian Hill / Narelle Dew Paul Panos Mike Buttfield Flavio Zandona Anthony Horvat
1993 Ric Trutwin Connie Costanzo Damian Hill / Narelle Dew Paul Panos Mike Buttfield Flavio Zandona Celine White Anthony Horvat
1994 Ric Trutwin Connie Costanzo Damian Hill / Narelle Dew Paul Panos Mike Buttfield Flavio Zandona Celine White Anthony Horvat
1995 Ric Trutwin Connie Costanzo Damian Hill / Narelle Dew Paul Panos Mike Buttfield Flavio Zandona Celine White Anthony Horvat
1996 Ric Trutwin Connie Costanzo Narelle Dew / Darren Elliott Paul Panos Mike Buttfield Flavio Zandona Celine White Anthony Horvat
1997 Ric Trutwin Connie Costanzo Narelle Dew / Darren Elliott Paul Panos Mike Buttfield Flavio Zandona Celine Barr Anthony Horvat
1998 Ric Trutwin Connie Costanzo Narelle Dew / Darren Elliott Paul Panos Mike Buttfield Flavio Zandona Celine Barr Anthony Horvat
1999 Ric Trutwin Connie Costanzo Narelle Dew / Darren Elliott Paul Panos Jason Mittiga Flavio Zandona Celine Barr Michael O’Dea
2000 Ric Trutwin Connie Costanzo Narelle Dew / Darren Elliott Paul Panos Jason Mittiga Flavio Zandona Celine Barr Michael O’Dea
2001 Ric Trutwin Connie Costanzo Narelle Dew / Darren Elliott Paul Panos Jason Mittiga Flavio Zandona Celine Barr Michael O’Dea
2002 Ric Trutwin Connie Costanzo Narelle Dew / Darren Elliott Paul Panos Jason Mittiga Flavio Zandona Michael O’Dea
2003 Ric Trutwin Connie Costanzo Narelle Dew / Darren Elliott Paul Panos Jason Mittiga Flavio Zandona Michael O’Dea
2004 Ric Trutwin Connie Costanzo / Lisa Mahoney Narelle Dew / Darren Elliott Paul Panos Jason Mittiga Flavio Zandona
2005 Ric Trutwin Connie Costanzo / Natasha Williams Narelle Dew / Darren Elliott Paul Panos /Serge Mensitieri Michael O’Dea/Jason Mittiga Flavio Zandona
2006 Ric Trutwin Connie Costanzo / Natasha Williams Narelle Dew / Darren Elliott Paul Panos /Serge Mensitieri Michael O’Dea/Jason Mittiga Flavio Zandona
2007 Ric Trutwin Connie Costanzo / Natasha Williams Narelle Dew / Darren Elliott Paul Panos /Serge Mensitieri Michael O’Dea Flavio Zandona
2008 Ric Trutwin Connie Costanzo / Rosie Petrilli Narelle Dew / Darren Elliott Paul Panos Michael O’Dea Flavio Zandona
2009 Ric Trutwin Connie Costanzo / Rosie Petrilli Narelle Dew / Darren Elliott Paul Panos / Luke Taverner Michael O’Dea Flavio Zandona Luke Taverner Lyndon Parry
2010 Ric Trutwin Connie Costanzo / Rosie Petrilli Narelle Dew / Darren Elliott Paul Panos / Luke Taverner Michael O’Dea Flavio Zandona Luke Taverner Lyndon Parry
2011 Ric Trutwin Rosie Petrilli Narelle Dew / Mark Bowman Paul Panos / Luke Taverner Michael O’Dea Flavio Zandona Luke Taverner Lyndon Parry
2012 Ric Trutwin Rosie Petrilli Narelle Dew / Darren Elliott Paul Panos / Luke Taverner Michael O’Dea Flavio Zandona Luke Taverner Lyndon Parry
2013 Ric Trutwin Rosie Petrilli Narelle Dew / Darren Elliott Paul Panos / Lisa Mahoney Michael O’Dea Flavio Zandona Lyndon Parry
2014 Ric Trutwin Rosie Petrilli Narelle Dew / Darren Elliott Paul Panos / Lisa Mahoney Rick Mackereth Flavio Zandona Lyndon Parry
2015 Ric Trutwin Rosie Petrilli Narelle Dew / Darren Elliott Paul Panos/Lisa Mahoney Rick Mackereth Jamie Mulcahy Justin Marsh/Simon Lovett
2016 Ric Trutwin Rosie Petrilli/Kristen Victory Narelle Dew/Darren Elliott Paul Panos/Lisa Mahoney Rick Mackereth / John Merrett Jamie Mulcahy/Jeanette Archer Justin Marsh/Simmon Lovett
2017 Ric Trutwin Rosie Petrilli / Kristen Victory Narelle Dew / Darren Elliott Paul Panos/Lisa Mahoney Rick Mackereth / John Merrett Jamie Mulcahy / Jeanette Archer

 

From 2018 – SACPSSA Carnival Executives; Carnival Coordination by Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

Year Swimming Netball Athletics Touch Cross Country Handball Lacrosse Tennis Computer Scoring  Basketball
2018 Darren Elliott Rosie Petrilli / Kristen Victory Narelle Dew / Luke Buchanan Darren Elliott/Lisa Mahoney Rick Mackereth / John Merrett Jeanette Archer / Jamie Mulcahy Anna Zoanetti
2019 Darren Elliott Rosie Petrilli / Kristen Victory Narelle Dew / Luke Buchanan Darren Elliott/Lisa Mahoney John Merrett n/a Jeanette Archer / Jamie Mulcahy Scott Hughes Anna Zoanetti
2020 Darren Elliott Rosie Petrilli / Kristen Victory Narelle Dew / Luke Buchanan Lisa Mahoney / Paul Panos John Merrett Jeanette Archer / Jamie Mulcahy Scott Hughes Anna Zoanetti
2021 Darren Elliott Rosie Petrilli / Kristen Victory Narelle Dew / Luke Buchanan Lisa Mahoney John Merrett Jeanette Archer / Jamie Mulcahy Scott Hughes Anna Zoanetti
2022 Darren Elliott  Rosie Petrilli / Kristen Victory  Narelle Dew / Luke Buchanan  Lisa Mahoney John Merrett Bec Keller / Jamie Mulcahy Scott Hughes Anna Zoanetti
2023 Darren Elliott Kristen Victory Narelle Dew / Luke Buchanan Lisa Mahoney John Merrett Jamie Mulcahy Scott Hughes Anna Zoanetti Basketball (initiated 2024)
2024 Darren Elliott Kristen Victory Narelle Dew / Fabian Chevalier Lisa Mahoney John Merrett Jamie Mulcahy Scott Hughes Anna Zoanetti Darren Elliott

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.