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.
Vicki Walker
Sydney, NSW
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.
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.
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.
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.
David Seymour
Grafton, NSW
David is a long-term member of Grafton Presbyterian Church and has extensive experience in pastoral ministry and chaplaincy, including hospital and prison chaplaincy. He also has been an active member of the local Grafton community, including 6 years as President / Vice-President of the New School of Arts as well as being President of the Copmanhurst Rest Point Hotel Fishing Club.
Keith Long
Hawkesbury, NSW
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.
Brendon and Fran Hotschilt
Ballina, Far North Coast, NSW
Gold Coast, QLD
Gold Coast, QLD
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
Brisbane, 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.
Rev Ross Ellwood
Hobart, TAS
Ross is Rector of Glenorchy Anglican Church, which includes Elwick Racecourse (Hobart) in its parish boundary. He is a former racehorse trainer and saddler from Ballina, so brings to the role a good understanding of racing. Ross also has extensive formal pastoral care training, holding a Diploma in Pastoral Ministry from the Adelaide College of Divinity and a Certificate in Suicide Prevention from Wesley Life Force. He has previously worked as a volunteer chaplain in aged care situations.
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 Phil Zamagias
Echuca, VIC
The Rev. Phil Zamagias is the Rector of Christ’s Church Anglican in Echuca, having recently 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.
Philip Woolford
Melbourne, VIC
Philip has a background in the agricultural sector, particularly the dairy industry. He has extensive experience in Christian ministry, especially in leadership roles, training and pastoral care. Phil is a member of Crossway Baptist Church in Melbourne and lives close to Pakenham racecourse.
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.
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.
