Laura Veloso, Australian Panellist
The Press Service International young writer program in conjunction with Christian Today see the 2018 Panellist program well under way.
The young writer program started on Monday 15 January - the marking season runs through to mid July with the awards conference being held in Christchurch New Zealand on Saturday 1 September.
The International Young Writer Panellists are
Dr Vic Matthews
Rev Euan McDonald
Mr Daniel Stott
Dr Nathanael Yates
Ms Danielle Stott - 2014 Basil Sellers Award
Gavin Lawrie, Australian Panellist
Awards Commission
Last September Press Service International held an Awards Commission chaired by New Zealand Panellist Christina Tyson (Salvation Army) and one outcome of the Awards Commission is as follows:
18-30 years of age - Basil Sellers Award
Over 31's - a separate award
What this means – are additional panellists for the Over 31's.
There are 10 young writers over 31 in the Australians and there are 9 Over 31's in the New Zealand and Internationals combined, The amounts to 10 more panellists.
Along with additional panellists in the major groups filling spots – as it were.
Other Panellist Groups
New Zealand
Brian Carrell
Wayne Graham
Sarah Richards
Sophia Sinclair
Liz Hay
Sport
Josh Robbie
Peter Nelson
Simon Farrer
Tim Price
John Skinner
Australians
Vicki Nunn
Gavin Lawrie
Aira Chilcott
Kandima Awendila
Laura Veloso
Aira Chilcott, Australian Panellist
Panellists for the Over 31's
Australians
Tim McDonald
Peter Rope
New Zealand / Internationals
Talisa Pariss
David Luschwitz
Tim McDonald from Mackay was one of our very first Australians young writers 2011-12 before the awards were established.
Peter Rope from Auckland was a Kiwi young writer 2012-14 and became a New Zealand Panellist in 2015-16, and took a break in 2017.
Talissa Pariss from Brisbane is a former Australian young writers 2015-16 and won 2nd place in 2016 in the Australian Basil Sellers Award.
David Luschwitz from Walgett NSW has been in the young writer program for four years relocated in 2017 from Sydney to Walgett as a senior teacher.
Statisticians
This is a complicated role and therefore we have different people doing the stats for different groups
Australians and Internationals
Bill Chilcott
New Zealand
Ron Hay
Sport
Jeremy Dover
Over 31's groups
John Grocott
The 2018 panellists are well under way – busily marking each young writer out of 10 points.
Liz Hay, New Zealand Panellist
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at