Our Service
What do we offer?
Services and relief
- Racetrack chaplaincy (stables, trackwork & racedays)
- Personal & relationship counselling (individuals and couples)
- Grief support and assistance with funerals
- Assistance in dealing with government services and racing authorities
- Personal support in times of crisis or hardship
- Hospital visits
- Court support for appearances
- Prison chaplaincy
- Public commemorations and memorial events
- Referrals to appropriate services or agencies
Our Chaplains
Rev Colin Watts
National Chaplain
Colin Watts is ARCC's full-time chaplain to Sydney racing and beyond. His lifelong interest in horse racing stems from growing up on his family's harness racing stables at Cabramatta and Fairfield. Colin has been an ordained Anglican minister since 1992. Colin joined ARCC as a board member in July 2007 and was subsequently appointed as the honorary Anglican chaplain to the AJC in April 2008. He was appointed as Sydney's first full-time racing chaplain in June 2009.
Debbie Priestley
Sydney, NSW
Debbie is a high-school teacher who loves horses and has bred and owned thoroughbreds. Debbie has been appointed as part-time chaplain to Sydney with a particular focus on female participants.
Father Tom Stevens
Sydney, NSW
Father Tom Stevens is Parish Administrator of St Patrick’s Catholic Parish, Mortlake. He is an avid racegoer (and long term member of the Australian Turf Club). From 2017, he has conducted the annual Sydney Racing Fraternity Mass at Royal Randwick.
Ian Jones
Brisbane / SE Queensland
Ian recently retired from pastoral ministry in Baptist churches after 35 years. Before that he was a primary school teacher for 12 years….and throughout all these years he has been an award-winning comic strip cartoonist. However, his love of horses pre-dates all these other activities….and he has owned and bred a few horses over the years as well. Ian has been appointed to serve as the part-time chaplain to the horseracing industry in Brisbane and SE Qld. It is Ian’s dream job, bringing his love of horses, horse people and his love for Jesus all together.
Bob Prior
Canberra, ACT
Bob was the chaplain to the horse racing industry in Canberra for many years, and returns to this role after a two-year hiatus ministering to those recovering from drug & alcohol addiction.
Aaron Bruhn
Canberra, ACT
Aaron regularly attends trackwork at Canberra and provides much-appreciated assistance to Bob Prior.
Mark Bartimote
Dubbo Region, NSW
Mark is chaplain to the Dubbo Turf Club and Dubbo Rugby Club. He lives near Dubbo and has strong connections to the Dubbo and Western region community. He is credentialed with the Australian Christian Churches and has extensive pastoral care training and experience.
Terry Pope
Grafton, NSW
Terry is a member of Grafton Presbyterian Church and has extensive experience in hospital chaplaincy, both in Tamworth and Grafton. We are thankful he has been able to continue the work done by David Seymour before illness forced David to retire.
Brendon and Fran Hotschilt
Ballina, Far North Coast, NSW
Brendon and Fran live in Lennox Head and are members of the Ballina Bible Centre. Fran works for Queensland Health as a Welfare Officer with a speciality in substance abuse. Brendon previously worked for the NSW Dept of Sport and Recreation, has been a LifeLine Counsellor and has also worked in the racing industry for a number of years. Together Brendon and Fran manage Camp Drewe at Lennox Head.
Geof Vines
Gold Coast, QLD
Geof has a background in the Brethren Church and brings to the role extensive experience in pastoral care and workplace chaplaincy. Geof has also occasionally provided input into the jockeys' apprentice school, focusing on suicide awareness and prevention. Geof will work closely with Racing Queensland to more broadly support the industry.
Ian Brougham
Port Macquarie, NSW
Ian was ordained into the Episcopal Church in Washington USA and served for 14 years in the US Army which broadened his mind and his heart. Arriving back in Australia in 2007 Port Macquarie was the choice for retirement until God reminded Ian that there is more to do. Ian served as Sports Chaplaincy Australia's Northern NSW Coordinator for many years and we are excited to have someone with Ian's heart and commitment to serve the folks in racing around Port.
Marina Mossman
Darwin, NT
Marina Mossman was recently affiliated as the new volunteer racing chaplain in Darwin. Marina enjoys attending race meetings and is particularly keen to serve the needs of the female jockeys. Marina also serves as chaplain to Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospitals, as part of the wider health team that responds to referrals from patients, staff, clergy and community members for specific pastoral care needs.
Rev Paul Bauer
Bendigo, VIC
Paul is a Uniting Church minister with Bendigo South Uniting Church. He is a long-term follower of horse racing, and has shares in a few racehorses. He served as the racing chaplain at Hobart for a few years before moving back to Victoria and is also accredited with Sports Chaplaincy Australia where his passion is Australian Rules Football, especially as a goal umpire and goal umpire coach.
Rev Phil Zamagias
Echuca, VIC
The Rev. Phil Zamagias is the Rector of Christ’s Church Anglican in Echuca, having moved to Victoria to take up the role. Previously, he was Rector of Fred’s Pass Anglican Church in Darwin, and served as Chaplain to the local motor racing community and as racing chaplain at Fannie Bay Racecourse. Phil has served as Sports Chaplaincy Australia Chaplain to motor racing since 2004 and has been affiliated with the Australian Racing Christian Chaplaincy since 2016.
Keith Long
Hawkesbury, NSW (Retired)
(** Keith has stepped back from his role as racing chaplain due to increased responsibilities in his other duties **)
Keith lives in the Hawkesbury area and attends Windsor District Baptist church where he heads up their pastoral care team. He has been a chaplain at the Supreme Court of NSW in Sydney and is currently a volunteer chaplain at Windsor Local Court. Keith has a long term interest in racing and is a member of the Australian Turf Club.
Vicki Walker
Newcastle, NSW (Retired)
(** Vicki has decided to move on from racing chaplaincy to other endeavours. We wish her well in her next phase **)
Vicki grew up around horses and is very much at home on the racecourse. Her father, Kerry, trained horses in both New South Wales and Queensland. Vicki works part-time with ARCC, and is part-way through theological studies at Mary Andrews College in Sydney. Vicki' s main role is to provide chaplaincy support to female jockeys and stablehands in the Hunter and Central Coast regions.
Rev Paul Bayliss
Retired
The Rev Paul Bayliss, now retired from active chaplaincy, is the founder of ARCC, and has been involved as a racing chaplain for over 20 years, beginning when he was rector of Harris Park Anglican Church near Rosehill racecourse. Paul was also a founding trustee of the National Jockeys Trust, which seeks to provide financial assistance to jockeys and their families, particularly where need arises from serious injury, illness or death of a jockey.
Brother Dan Stafford OAM
Retired
Brother Dan Stafford is a well-known figure in the horse racing industry, having been a Catholic chaplain in three different states over a period of twenty-five years. In August 2008, Brother Dan was the inaugural recipient of the Industry Recognition Award, presented by the NSW Racehorse Owners Association to honour an outstanding contribution to the industry. In 2013, Brother Dan received the Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia for service to the community of Sydney as a chaplain. And in 2018, Brother Dan was admitted as a Life Member of the Australian Turf Club.