Mrs Pauline Long

The workhorse of the Armidale Diocesan Sports Council for over 30 years; Pauline has dedicated so much time and effort into Sport within the Armidale Diocese, holding the Secretary and Treasurer roles for the ADPSC committee and being the “go to” person if you ever had a question or concern that was Sport related. Pauline’s general knowledge of sporting rules and regulations meant you could always rely on her for expertise in any sport. Pauline has convened many Diocesan Sporting fixtures including: Swimming, Cross Country, Athletics and Netball Gala Days. She has also convened the Polding Netball Trials many times. 

Pauline organised many Diocesan trips away for students in all our Diocesan schools for Swimming, Athletics, Cross Country, Summer & Winter Trials; when teams traveled together by bus (along with parents) for Interdiocesan or Polding fixtures. 

Pauline’s passion was Netball, coaching the Armidale Diocesan Team and Polding Team to many many victories. The Polding Netball team won the State PSSA Championships twice under Pauline’s guidance. Pauline also had a major involvement in Athletics as a convener and a diocesan manager. She coached many relay teams to NSW PSSA Championships. 

Pauline has since retired from having a major role in ADPSC but I am sure we will still see her assisting at an Athletics carnival or cheering alongside a Netball court. Pauline has supported a number of staff members to become involved in Sport in our Diocese as well as an ongoing advocate for the positive attributes sport has to students’ education. We will be forever grateful for the time and effort Pauline has put into Primary School Sport.

Mr Gary McSweeney

Gary’s involvement in Armidale Diocesan Sport, NSWCPS and NSWPSSA has been instrumental to say the least. He has a wealth of knowledge about a variety of different sporting structures, rules and regulations. He has been particularly successful as a mentor for teachers to encourage their participation in sport within the Diocese. 

Gary’s involvement in Sport for the Armidale Diocese commenced in 1992 and over the years has held a number of positions such as Swimming, Cross Country and Athletics Carnival Convener and Team Manager. Gary has also convened the Polding Winter Trials held in the Armidale Diocese for a number of years as well as Senior Team Manager for the Polding Athletics Team from 1997-2014.

Gary’s membership of the Catholic Schools Coordinating Committee (which is now known as Catholic Schools NSW) commenced in 1996. In 1997, Gary took the first Polding athletics team to a NSWPSSA carnival. This was the first event that Catholic students were able to compete in. In 1992, Gary convened an Inter Diocesan Catholic Cross Country carnival in Barraba which was the first carnival to be held outside of the metro area. Gary was also the NSW Athletics Team Manager from 1997-2003. Gary is currently Polding Chairperson as well as a life member for NSWPSSA since 2012. 

Gary was a significant influence in the commitment to allow Catholic students to compete against Public and Private schools at the NSWPSSA Sporting fixtures. Gary was the first Catholic to be appointed in an executive position in 2005-2009 as PSSA Vice President. Gary is currently the Senior Vice President for NSWPSSA which he has held this title since 2010. In 2020 Gary was appointed as a NSW board member for School Sport Australia.

Gary has encouraged the participation in sport from a student and teacher level for many years and we are very grateful for his contribution. Sadly Gary lost his battle with cancer in March 2023. He will be dearly missed. I  Gary's honour we will host the Gary McSweeney Rugby Union Cup in Tamworth every year. 

Ms Toni Palmer

Rugby League and Athletics were the sporting passions that Toni Palmer helped drive countless achievements in our Diocese. Toni’s involvement in sport in our Diocese commenced in 1981. Many lunchtimes and late nights, Toni has spent organising uniforms, permission notes, playing gear, with no one ever questioning her dedication. 

Toni has shared her knowledge, expertise and excitement for the game to so many young men and women over the years. Tony’s love for Rugby League started at a young age but her coaching career kicked off at St Philomena’s Moree in the 1980’s and continued up until today. Toni coached the Polding Rugby League team in 1995 at the NSWPSSA championships in Newcastle and was also the Team Manager for the Armidale Diocesan Team on and off for many years.

Toni also had a love for athletics. She started out as an Armidale Diocesan Team Manager in the mid 1980’s and made it up the ranks to Polding Team Manager also. Toni has watched so many Armidale Diocesan sporting achievements over the years on the Athletics track and supported many of our students to progress through to Nationals. 

Sadly, Toni Palmer passed away on the 24th Agust, 2021 after a long battle with cancer. Toni was an absolute sporting asset to the Armidale Diocesan Primary Sport and we were so lucky to have such a dedicated woman on our team. The Armidale Diocesan Primary Sports Council has announced that it will be dedicated the Diocesan Rugby League carnival and trial day to be now known as the 'Toni Palmer Memorial Shield'. The first carnival will be held in Armidale in 2022. 

Mr Greg O'Toole

Greg O’Toole has been a member of the Armidale Diocesan Primary Sports Council for 25 years. He has been an invaluable support to the students and staff of the Armidale Diocese in the coordination and organisation of various sporting ventures. This has also included taking on the roles of a Cluster Representative and Secretary for the ADPSC since 1995.

Greg brings a tremendous amount of knowledge and skill in the game of Basketball. His coaching qualifications and competence is second to none in our Diocese. Watching Greg on a Basketball court or sideline is truly an inspiration. The manner in which he manages drills and training sessions with students teaching them beneficial skills for on and off the court is admirable. Greg’s talent in selecting plays and innovative strategies to improve the students game structure is a credit to his understanding of the game and his capabilities to work with students. This commitment resulted in Greg being appointed as the inaugural Polding Boys Basketball Team Manager in 1995, successfully winning the NSW PSSA State Championship in 1996.

Greg has also convened the Armidale Diocesan Basketball, Soccer, Touch Football and Rugby League trials as well as Football and Touch Football Gala Days. He has been an Armidale Diocesan Team Manager in these sports as well as Athletics and Cross Country. 

Greg’s passion for sport has seen him successfully convene Polding Soccer/Football, Touch Football and Rugby League Trials. He has also been the Assistant Carnival Manager for NSW PSSA Basketball and Rugby League Carnivals where his ability to liaise with the local sporting bodies and community groups was integral in the smooth organisation of the carnival.

In 2011 Greg was the worthy recipient of the NSW CPS Service Award for his commitment to school sport. In 2019 Greg’s outstanding contributions to school sport were once again recognised when he received a NSW PSSA Service Award for Athletics. 

We are very grateful for Greg's dedication in providing many sporting opportunities for the students of the Armidale Diocese.

Mrs Trish Dal Santo

If you want a fun filled amazing Gala Day, Trish Dal Santo is your lady to call. Trish has organised the Netball, Rugby League and Soccer gala days and Touch Football gala days for a number of years. Traditionally they have been rotated around the diocese, but Trish Dal Santo has managed these in Inverell for some time now. What an experience for the children to be a part of a day that provides so many social, physical and mental development opportunities. Trish’s organisational skills and confidence is evident in these fabulous carnivals she creates for the students in the Armidale Diocese.

Trish also devotes her time and energy into being an Athletics and Netball Team Manager for the Armidale Diocese. She has been a part of the Armidale Athletics team for approximately 7 years of which she is now the Senior Team Manager. She helped develop not only student’s ability in Athletics but also encouraged new staff into taking on these roles and supporting them. Trish has been a convener and team manager for netball in the Armidale Diocese and willingly shares her experience, knowledge and love for the game with all students.  

Since starting work for the Armidale Diocese in 2003, Trish has also been a manager for the diocese in Basketball, Swimming and Cross Country.

Trish was also a Polding Manager in Swimming and Netball. Her Netball managerial role lasted for 9 years, where there were many successful girls who gained selection into the NSW PSSA State Netball side. The highlight of the 9 years was when the Polding Team came first at the State Championships. 

Trish Dal Santo is an encouraging and supportive role model to the sporting structures in the Armidale Diocese and we are very grateful for her input into Primary Sport.