This is the second article, titled the Festival of Cricket.
These 'cricket ministry' articles will take the reader inside the world of cricket including cricket festivals, cricket touring, the early years of cricket chaplaincy and the nature of cricket relationships.
In those years as the Australian Cricket Team chaplain he saw five generations of cricketers come through the Australian cricket team system, in an era after the World Series Cricket and before this new cricket revolution of Twenty/20.
In his era as Chaplain to the Australian XI the Australian Cricket Team captains were Kim Hughes, Allan Border, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh. In this role he was interviewed by numerous media outlets including television, radio and newsprint.
The second article in this Ashes lead up, M V Tronson discusses the benefits for ministry at the festivals of cricket.
Elizabeth and Bruce Nicholls established the Festival of Cricket in 2005. The Festival of Cricket is the world's only two day cricket event where no game is played but … the oval is filled with non-stop activity, demonstrations, displays, forums, cricket stars and legends.
It's everything for cricket lovers and players from ages 4 to 104. If it has anything to do with cricket – you'll find it there!
The Festival of Cricket is like a Cricket Trade Show where a wide range of cricket 'things' are on display – such as the making of a cricket bat, netting, coaching, clothing, souvenirs, displays of the Blind Cricketers and a whole lot more.
The Festival of Cricket was held in Bowral on the Bradman Oval and ran for two years, the first year on the October long weekend in 2005, and in 2006 the second weekend of November.
On each occasion the Festival of Cricket had Panels of Cricketing personalities who answered specific questions to an audience and where members of the public could ask questions.
Mark and Delma Tronson were the Chaplains for the Festival of Cricket, and Mark was invited onto the 'Panels' (discussion forums) having been the Chaplain to the Australian Cricket Team for 17 years.
The Festival of Cricket bought together numerous former Australian cricketers which proved very providential for the Life After Cricket ministry.
The Panels proved very inviting with Mark answering questions on cricket ministry as well as expressing his opinion on the prospects of cricket's future.
At the inaugural Festival of Cricket in October 2005, who should be in the audience than the Reverend Dr Ross Clifford, cricket tragic and Principal of Morling Theological College. Mark and Ross were contemporaries at Morling College and Ross served from 1987-91 as the Chairman of the Sports and Leisure Ministry.
At the conclusion of that particular Panel session, Ross mentioned to Mark that the Panel with the Chaplain was a very good idea, it worked well, and the responses were well received.
The Festival of Cricket sought to expand in 2007 and move to the Village Green at the SCG but that didn't get the green light . Many support the concept, but without the where-with-all, it hasn't gone anywhere. However 'the word is' that some English Counties have expressed interest in this concept. Yes, Mark and Delma have been invited to be the Chaplains.
Mark and Delma Tronson found the Festival of Cricket wonderfully beneficial to their ministry and he trusts it will bounce back with the support it deserves, even if it means going to England before Australia can get a crack at it again.