Beecroft Zone Life Members

Under Construction, last update October 2023

Active Life Members hold the history of our Zone.

Our Beecroft Zone Constitution States:

17. LIFE MEMBERSHIP

Life Membership of the Beecroft PSSA may be conferred by the council for distinguished service to sport within the zone.
Candidates for life membership will have made outstanding contributions to school sport over a lengthy period and at both school and zone levels.
Nominations must be submitted through the association accompanied by a statement of the qualifications and achievements of the nominee.
Nominations must reach the Secretary by the 31 October each calendar year, be dealt with by the executive and be submitted to council for decision and election at the following AGM.

In compiling this list little is know from before 2005, If you know any additional information about any of the Life Members below please contact us so we can update it.

Beecroft Zone Life Members:

Jim Visione

Annangrove PS – Awarded Life Membership in 2003
Past President
Convened the Cross Country Carnival for 10+ years

Susan Folkard

Dural PS - Awarded??
Past President
Convened almost every Zone Sport
Highly skilled at the recording tables at Zone Carnivals

John Gallie

Thornleigh West PS - Awarded?

Kathy Molloy

Normanhurst and West Pennant Hills PS, Awarded ??
Little more is known at this time

Wade Bridgwood

Beecroft Public School – Awarded Life Membership in 2009
Started with Mark in 2001, they both came from Wentworthville PSSA
The messiah of Beecroft Zone Sport
Has served the zone for over 20 years
He has been and continues to be an active member of the committee
He has been an executive many times and held the position of President for many years.
He is a true professional in all that he does regarding Zone sport
He is a superb convenor of zone football and Friday PSSA sport with a genuine interest in giving every participant encouragement.
He promotes the Zone through his enthusiasm and hands on approach to help every colleague and every student.

Joy Rowtliep

Cherrybrook PS - Awarded Life Membership in 2014

Mark Bryant

Pennant Hills PS - Awarded Life Membership in 2021
Started with Wade in 2001, both came from Wentworthville PSSA
Mark was part of the group who started weekly Friday PSSA sport, before this it was just carnivals and trials
Vice President 2013 & 2014
Treasurer 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Athletics convenor 2014
Rugby League 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014 (12 years)
Touch Football 2003
Hockey 2010, 2011 and 2020
Golf 2015, 2016 and 2018
Water Polo 2016 & 2017
Consistently assists others with their trials
Is always at carnivals in various roles offering support
Mark has held a position on the Council within the Zone every year since 2001
Mark has been Pennant Hill’s PSSA representative since 2001
He has organised school sport at Pennat Hills PS since 2001
He is still here and active in his 22nd year.
- - Matt Pinchbeck – He is the history of the Zone. Anything I need to know I just ask Mark!
  - All: How has it taken this long to recognise Mark?

Glynis Bridgewood

Cherrybrook PS - Awarded Life Membership in 2021
Started in 2008
Winter Cluster 2 PSSA Netball Coordinator 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 (10 years)
Delegate 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017
Was invaluable at carnivals, especially as a recorder
Retired from teaching in 2018, active in the Zone for 10 years.
- - Glen Lakeman: She always put sport first, supported students through sport and is still continuing to support students now.
  - Evan Gibbons: She was the Glue of the Carnival. She could do it all.

Paula Davies

Galston PS and Cherrybrook PS - Awarded Life Membership in 2021
Started in 1997
Secretary 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 & 2004 (7 years)
Convened Cross Country Carnivals 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 & 2004 (6 years). Over this time she modinsed the Cross Country to include St Johns Ambulance, portable toilets and drink stations.
Initiated and drafted the original Beecroft Zone Constitution and Rules Governing Play. This draft was ratified and has been added to over the years.
Initiated and organised the concept of Zone Life Membership Awards from 2003 onwards, this was ratified by the Zone executive. The first Life Membership was awarded to Jim Visione from Annangrove who had been Zone Cross Country convener for over 10 years and Zone President.
Creator of the BAZA awards in 2003. These awards recognise elite student achievement and have taken place for almost 20 years. A wonderful and lasting legacy. Paula was involved in the BAZAs from 2003-2006 as an organiser, then on and off as needed when nobody else volunteered.
Unfortunately physical records from before 2003 do not exist. The contribution to Beecroft Zone by Paula before 2003 is mostly based off word of mouth from life members who speak very fondly of Paula’s contributions. Past presidents have said she was a hard worker and a go-to person at carnivals. The continued success of the BAZAs in recognising and celebrating our sporting elite has shown the doubters in the original meeting back in 2003 to be way off the mark.
Paula was asked to step back from her Zone duties by her principal after promotion in 2005, from that point she just supported the BAZAs as needed.
Active in the Zone for approximately 16 years.
- - Glen Lakeman: She is our past history, our link. Very passionate still about sport. She unselfishly stepped aside so others could take on the baton.
  - Justin Field: The BAZAs are a wonderful legacy to leave.

Greg McLaren

Normanhurst West PS - Awarded Life Membership in 2021
Started in 2007
As president he formalised the way Zone meetings were conducted.
Introduced a structure to how the Zone conducted meetings, trials and Friday PSSA.
Knew where he wanted to get the Zone to and actively got us there under his leadership.
President 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 (5 years)
Executive Member 2018
Zone Delegate 2012, 2013 & 2014
Athletics Carnival Convenor 2008
Football Convenor 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014
Golf Convenor 2010
Water Polo Convenor 2010
Rugby Union Convenor 2015
Left the Zone and joined Castle Hill Zone when promoted to Principal at Samuel Gilbert PS
Active for approximately 11-12 years
- - Matt Pinchbeck: He produces great people.
  - Evan Gibbons: The structures, pathways and legacy he has left behind is inspiring.
  - Justin Field: If he needed to say something with 5 words he would use 2, he didn’t suffer fools and told them so. Knew his stuff and knew how to get there.

Janelle Pearce

Cherrybrook and Normanhurst West PS - Awarded Life Membership in 2021
Started in 2007
As president Janelle continued what Greg started with modernising the Zone.
Introduced Trial-Information Packs that we still use today. Convenors can pass on their knowledge, paperwork and strategies to the next convenor. These were updated yearly and distributed as needed.
President 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 (5 years)
Zone Delegate 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012
Instrumental in restarted the ball games carnival in 2013
Athletics convenor 2009 and 2014
Diving 2009 and 2014
Left the Zone at the end of 2017 when she gave birth to her first child and has enjoyed motherhood so much she now has three beautiful children.
Active approximately 11 years
- - Evan Gibbons: the most passionate person about providing opportunities for students. Attuned to their needs and the needs of the Zone Office Bearers around her.
  - Justin Field: Inspiring as a president, lead from the front and always knew what to do.
  - Nick Starr: she was my year 6 teacher, incredible person.
  - Mark Bryant: I taught her husband in year 6.

Glen Lakeman

Cherrybrook PS - Awarded Life Membership in 2021
Started in the Zone 2007
Winter Cluster 2 PSSA Soccer Coordinator 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 (15 years)
Winter Cluster 2 PSSA Netball Coordinator 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
Delegate 2018, 2019
AFL 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
Executive Member 2021
He is still here and active for his 16th year.
- - Nick Starr: Always the calm voice of reason, always there to help and encourage. Always supports others in the school to take on roles. Cool, calm, collected and runs like clockwork.

Evan Gibbons

Glenorie, Thornleigh West and Normanhurst West PS - Awarded Life Membership in 2021
Started in 2008
President 2021
Vice President 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 (10 years)
Started Cluster 3 PSSA Sport when he was at Glenorie PS
Started the Stage 2 PSSA Competition in 2018 which is continuing to grow and prosper.
AFL 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 (7 years)
He is still here and active for his 14th year
- - Matt Pinchbeck: More quality people coming out of Normanhurst West. Excellent contributor and his record says it all.
  - Nick Starr: a better president than a netballer

Click here to return to the top of the page

Page updated

Report abuse