Beecroft Awards for Zone
Through the BAZAS we acknowledge, reward and encourage all the students who achieve amazing things at the very highest level for their sport, whilst representing their school and Zone.
Paula Davies, BAZAS Creator - Beecroft Zone Life Member - Cherrybrook PS.
Through the BAZAS we acknowledge, reward and encourage all the students who achieve amazing things at the very highest level for their sport, whilst representing their school and Zone.
Paula Davies, BAZAS Creator - Beecroft Zone Life Member - Cherrybrook PS.
History:
History:
The BAZAS began in 2002......
The BAZAS began in 2002......
It was an idea that came from a desire to acknowledge, reward and encourage all students who achieve amazing results at the very highest level possible for their chosen PSSA sport, whilst representing their school, zone, area and state.
At that time I was the Zone Secretary as well as the Cross Country Convener for the Zone and State. Previously I had organised something similar in the Mt Druitt Zone PSSA (where I spent many years as secretary, equipment officer and convener of softball, tee-ball, and numerous other sports and major carnivals). After many weeks of sorting through the PSSA Handbook and talking with numerous State PSSA Carnival Organisers I had refined the idea and determined the criteria for the awards.
I presented my idea in July 2002 at the Beecroft Zone PSSA meeting and was delighted by the support my idea received.The first BAZAS Executive were: myself, Wade Bridgewood, Di Bower, Sue Folkard, Jim Visione, David Trevena and Kathy Molloy.
It was Wade who suggested the name BAZAS and Kathy Molloy enthusiastically supported this idea. I have to say at the time I wasn't so sure about the acronym for Beecroft Awards for Zone Achievement in Sport, but the name stuck and everyone seemed happy about it. I wouldn't want it any other way now.
Wade, as Wade does, got totally carried away with the concept and composed a song to go with the event! I thought this was going just too far beyond the formality I had in mind. I still to this day have a copy of Wade's song (link to song here).
We held the first BAZAS at 'The Galston Club' and to everyone's surprise, (there were a few thought the criteria was too hard to meet), we had 20 recipients of the Outstanding Achievement Awards, 4 recipients of the Outstanding Representation Awards and 1 recipient for the Outstanding Team Achievement Award. Our inaugural Zone Sportsperson of the year was Ellyse Perry from Beecroft Public School. Fittingly so, Ellyse has gone on to represent Australia at both football and cricket since the age of 16.
The awards have been a part of our PSSA DNA in Beecroft Zone ever since, mostly thanks to the enthusiastic support I received from my colleagues in those first few years. The BAZAS is a wonderful tradition and a reminder to our many affiliated schools that sporting excellence abounds in Beecroft Zone. Our gifted and talented sportspersons are very deserving of their Zone recognition.
Paula Davies
BAZA Creator
Assistant Principal
Cherrybrook Public School
2025 BAZAS
2025 BAZAS
BAZAS Coordinated and Organised by
BAZAS Coordinated and Organised by
Justin Field, Dual PS
When: Wednesday 3rd December 2025
Where: West Pennant Hills Public School Hall, 1 Church St, West Pennant Hills NSW 2125
Time: 4:30pm for a 5:00pm start, finishing at approximately 6:00pm
Cost: Nil
Attire: Nominated students must wear full school uniform
Light snacks and refreshments will be served from 4:30pm.
How do you get a BAZA?
How do you get a BAZA?
A quick guide on nominating for The BAZA Awards
A quick guide on nominating for The BAZA Awards
Member schools within Beecroft Zone nominate for category 1, 2 and/or 3; with category 4 being selected by the BAZA Committee. Nominations open late Term 3 up to mid Term 4 and must be submitted by member schools.
Category 1: Outstanding Achievement Award:
Category 1: Outstanding Achievement Award:
Students who have represented the Zone at the very highest level possible for the particular code of sport attempted. This is an individual award for PSSA carnivals and PSSA representative sport only. Please note this category of award does not include swimming relay and athletic relay teams.
For PSSA Carnivals the highest representation is:
State for 8, 9 and 13 year olds.
Nationals for 10, 11 and 12 year olds.
For all other PSSA representative sports, there is a mixture of National and State depending on the sport.
Category 2: Outstanding Representation Award:
Category 2: Outstanding Representation Award:
Students who have represented the Zone at Sydney North or higher in 4 or more separate codes of sport in the current school year. (ie they have received 4 or more representative patches in this calendar year)
Please note: Sports where no Zone trials were held require students to have been selected in The Combined Zone Team and/or Sydney North Team for this award.
Category 3. Outstanding Team Achievement Award:
Category 3. Outstanding Team Achievement Award:
Students who were members of a school PSSA sporting team which WON a PSSA State Carnival, WON a State Relay (athletics or swimming) or WON a State Knockout Competition. For relay winning teams only 4 awards will be awarded. (ie The four students who competed at the highest level).
Category 4: Zone Sportsperson of the Year:
Category 4: Zone Sportsperson of the Year:
The student who has achieved the most outstanding and distinguished level of achievement for the sporting year. Students are not nominated for this Category by their schools. The BAZA Committee selects a student who has received a BAZA from Categories 1, 2 and /or 3 for Sportsperson of the Year.
This will take into account:
Level of Representation (Zone, Sydney North, State, National)
Quantity of sporting achievement (Number of sports or events)
Quality of sporting achievement (Individual or team placing)
Principal’s recommendation – degree of involvement at school, sportsmanship shown etc
The Beecroft Zone BAZA Committee will use a point scoring system to determine the most outstanding sportsperson should there be several deserving candidates.
Additional Information:
Additional Information:
Students who are selected for representation but fail to compete for any reason (illness, misadventure, schedule conflict or other extenuating circumstances) will not be considered for a BAZA.
Only the students who competed at the highest level receive a BAZA..
Reserves that did not compete at the highest level do not get a BAZA.
Nominations are only to include sports listed in the NSW PSSA Handbook. - Click here for NSWPSSA Handbook Link
Privately run competitions such as Futsal, Paul Wade Cup and Paul Kelly Cup do not qualify.
NSW PSSA Handbook Sports
NSW PSSA Handbook Sports
NSWPSSA STATE CARNIVALS
NSWPSSA STATE CARNIVALS
5.2 Athletics – Boys and Girls
5.3 Australian Football
5.4 Basketball - Boys and Girls
5.5a Cricket - Boys
5.5b Cricket - Girls
5.6 Cross Country - Boys and Girls
5.7 Golf - Boys and Girls
5.8 Hockey - Boys and Girls
5.9 Netball
5.10 Rugby League
5.11 Rugby Union
5.12 Football - Boys and Girls
5.13 Softball - Boys and Girls
5.14 Swimming - Boys and Girls
5.14.21 Diving – Boys and Girls
5.15 Tennis - Boys and Girls
5.16 Touch - Boys and Girls
NSWPSSA Knockout Competition (MUST WIN THE STATE KNOCKOUT)
NSWPSSA Knockout Competition (MUST WIN THE STATE KNOCKOUT)
6.2 Australian Football
6.3 Basketball - Boys and Girls
6.4 Cricket - Boys and Girls
6.5 Hockey - Boys and Girls
6.6 Netball
6.7 Rugby League
6.8 Rugby Union
6.9 Football (Soccer) - Boys and Girls
6.10 Softball - Boys and Girls
6.11 Tennis - Boys and Girls
6.12 Touch - Boys and Girls
6.13 Rugby Union - Girls 7s
NSWPSSA School Sport Unit Initiatives:
The following sports do have a NSWPSSA Pathway to State Representation but as yet are not quite in the NSWPSSA Handbook.
Students who are selected in the following teams will have that selection recognised in the BAZA process
NSWPSSA AFL Primary Girls 12 Years & Under
NSWPSSA Girls Rugby 7s
NSWPSSA Boys Netball
How does my child/ward/student get Nominated for a BAZA?:
How does my child/ward/student get Nominated for a BAZA?:
At the end of Term 3, member schools from Beecroft Zone will be emailed the link to the BAZA Nomination Form from the BAZA Coordinator.
Nominations are completed by school principals and/or school sport coordinators
Once Nominations are received, they are scrutinised for accuracy by the BAZA Coordinator/Committee
All schools who nominate are contacted by the BAZA Convenor and told if their nomination/s qualify or do not qualify.
If a student does not qualify the school is notified why so it can be communicated to the student and their parents/carers.
All successfully nominated students receive an official invite to the BAZAs.
The invite contains, location, time, attire etc
At the presentation afternoon:
Students receive medallions and certificates for Category 1, 2, & 3 BAZAs
There is usually 1-2 guest speakers who are successful young adults competing at the highest level in their chosen sport. Most are past students from member schools within Beecroft Zone.
A year in review slideshow of School, Zone, Sydney North, NSW and Nationals sporting highlights is displayed.
The BAZA Convenor contacts schools and asks for photos/videos of successfully nominated students as well as general school/Zone sport pictures.
The presentation ends with the crowning of the Sportsperson of the Year, they receive a trophy, certificate and usually a gift from Sydney North.
Please note:
2020 the representative pathway totally shut down after Zone Swimming due to Covid-19
2021, approximately half of the Handbook sports were completed to Nationals due to Covid-19
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