CHAIRPERSONS ANNUAL REPORT 2012 It gives me great pleasure to present this annual report on behalf of the executive, diocesan and association representatives and individual sport conveners. The scope of this report reflects another amazing year of sporting achievement for our catholic school students and staff in secondary schools across NSW. It provides a reflection of the incredible talent we have in our schools and the pathways that are available in a wide variety of sports. It is always rewarding to see students from our catholic secondary schools listed as members of NSW All School and Australian teams. Pope Benedict XVI in praying for this year’s London Olympic and Paralympic Games hoped for the promotion of world peace and friendship emphasizing the positive role that sports can play in society. He said, “the Olympics are the greatest sporting event in the world, at which athletes from a great many nations participate, and as such they have a strong symbolic value. The Games remind us of human endeavour and ambition at its most pure; the will to come together to measure our abilities and soar to ever greater heights in the name not of profit or greed but, in the words of the Olympic Charter: “at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity” Our NSWCCC sporting activities can foster these great values and are further testimony to the spirit of partnership and co-operation that are part of our Catholic education tradition. The report that follows is a most detailed account of the many sporting events for the year. It highlights the representative pathways and illustrates the complex yet incredible organisation that takes place to allow all these opportunities to come to fruition. There is no doubt that our success as an association is a result of the tremendous support at a local level from our participating schools, Principals and teachers. I offer my sincerest thanks and congratulations to the individual sports coordinators at each and every school in our system. They are at the ‘coal face’ where these sporting opportunities are communicated and work tirelessly, often well outside their normal teaching duties. To the NSWCCC sports conveners, thank you for work in promoting and organising your sport. The expertise, motivation and passion you have in coordinating your sport and ensuring access into the All Schools arena is invaluable and you are all vital to the success of CCC. To the Diocesan and Association representatives – a job well done. Your role in administering and organising your schools is ongoing throughout the year and again vital to allow our pathways to function so effectively. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the CCC executive – Chris Hook, Linda Densmore, Wendy Breen and Chris Anschau for the great work they have done throughout the year. This working committee has met regularly to improve our practices and discuss a wide variety of council issues, all in the aim of making CCC a more professional and effective association. A special mention to our good friend Helen Notley who has assisted our group again this year. The introduction of the CSSS website has been a major step forward for our organisation this year. It has provided a real presence for CCC and pushed us into the digital world with a professional interface. Thanks again to our dedicated executive officer in Kym Skerritt who has overseen the website introduction along with her continued support of council members, Principals, schools, students and families. Along with this, Kym provides a vital link to both the Catholic Schools Coordinating Committee and to the NSW All Schools sporting structures. Congratulations on a great year and thank you Kym on behalf of all involved in catholic school sport. The diverse roles mentioned so far are all vital components to the successful operation of CCC. We all must continue to be aware that we are one part of a team, that the association caters for students from all over NSW in over 20 sports and remain open minded to the reality of existing resources that are available to us. Finally, my thanks to the members of the Catholic Sports Coordinating Committee. Your support and guidance of our CCC council and your communication to the Conference of Directors and Association of Catholic School Principals is very much appreciated. As we look ahead to secure our future, particularly in light of proposed budget cuts to education in NSW, it is imperative that our council members and enthusiastic teachers continue to receive support from their respective Principals and Diocesan Offices. To those who are leaving our NSWCCCSA thankyou for your contributions, good luck to you and best wishes for the future! Please take time to read this NSW Combined Catholic Colleges Annual Report for 2012, I am sure you will be impressed with the quality of our students and the structures we have in place. John Sparks Chairperson 1 EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REPORT 2012 2012 was another successful year on the sporting field. I would like to acknowledge the success of NSWCCC Rugby League teams, Open Boys Touch, Boys Water Polo and 15 years Netball. All were successful at National Championships. It is timely to also congratulate the many past students who represented Australia in International, Olympic and Paralympic competitions. Many of these athletes have acknowledged the positive elements of participating in the school representative pathways. There is also many staff memers who participate and officate at the elite level. Congratulations on your achievements. As always their successes do not come without some sacrifice and encouragement from their family and support network. 2012 was also year of change for NSWCCC. The new website was launched and unfortunately it was not as smooth as anticipated. Thank you to everyone for the support and encouragement through some very difficult “teething times”. There are many benefits to this new website namely it provides accurate information to a wider community. It has certainly reduced the amount of paper required to keep up accurate communication. The Catholic Sports Coordinating Committee which has set policy and provided guidelines and support for the sub committees NSWCCC and NSWCPS has been replaced by Catholic Schools Sports Services. The activities and structure of NSWCCC and NSWCPS will not be affected but they will be provided with greater support from each of the NSW Catholic Dioceses. It is timely to thank all those who have served on the CSCC since 1993. We are grateful for your expertise and dedication in dealing with the development and integration of the representive pathway. Special thanks go to Gary McSweeney who has chaired this committee for the last ten years. My role as Executive Officer is made pleasurable and simpler because of those whom I work with. I offer my thanks to the following: Ann-Marie Miranda, Executive Officer – Primary who keeps alive the link between CCC and CPS and provides me with great support. Bev Vimpany, who provides the financial support that ensures payments are made and monitored and also provides wonderful support, also to Kathie Lowe who plays a vital role in the administration. Her patience and diligence is outstanding. I would like to extend my thanks to the NSWCCC Executive for their support and guidance. Your leadership and vision is inspirational. The NSWCCC Conveners work specifically with their sport ensuring rules of play and selections provide a level playing field and ensure all students are given equal opportunity. In particular, I would like to thank conveners who have retired. Ross Gawthorne (Girls Cricket), Tim Spain (Boys Cricket) and Jacinda Spicer (Netball). Their leadership and expertise have ensured opportunities for many students. I would also like to thank their schools for providing the support for them to carry out their duties. Diocesan/Association Sports Representatives will often work with conveners by supporting activities that are held in their local area. Often it is the local community’s hospitality that provides the most memorable moments. Special mention must go to the rural areas that have a wonderful way to ensure all have a good time. I also acknowledge your efforts to ensure your students are given the opportunity to attend NSWCCC selections when at times cost and isolation are great barriers. Special thanks to Fiona Stuart who represented Broken Bay while Amber McDonnell was on maternity leave. Also Chris Dutfield from MCS whose calmness and sense of justice were well recognised within the NSWCCC Council. Thank you to the school principals who support and value the representative sports program. Your support and encouragement of staff and students to attend events of the representative pathway is acknowledged and appreciated. Sports Co-ordinators – No organisation is successful unless it has people working at the grass roots level. Your tireless efforts to be the first port of call to the student and parents are necessary and appreciated. Thank you to the parents who provide oppurtunities to their children to use their god given talents. To over 800 students who have accessed the represented sport pathway - School. Diocesan/Association, NSWCCC, All Schools or School Sport Australia level, thank you for sharing your talents in a gracious way. We pray your achievements continue and that you may share your talents with others. Please take time to look through this report and take note of the names and schools of these people. I have enjoyed working with all groups and look forward to 2013. Kym Skerritt NSWCCC Executive Officer 2 CATHOLIC SPORTS COORDINATING COMMITTEE Catholic Sports Coordinating Committee (CSCC) was formed in 1994 in response to an identified need by the NSW Minister of Education to ensure all students and all teachers in all schools throughout NSW had access to NSW representation.