These Awards will be presented at the 5-6 September young writer mini-conference in Melbourne. The young writers awards falls within (WBA) Well-Being Australia's community mentoring initiatives.
A Panel of seven have been reading "each-week-day" the two young writers articles (4-5 minutes over a cuppa) giving each article a score out of 10. Every 10 weeks the score cards have been sent to WBA to ensure everything is above board, as perceptions are important.
The Panellists
Reverend Peter Nelson - Canberra – AIS Chaplain
Debbie Suba - Launceston - former missionary
Eric and Alyson Smith - Melbourne – Ret. Corporate
David Chang - Sydney - Christian Today
Rt. Reverend Brian Carrell - Christchurch NZ - Ret. CMS
Christina Tyson - Wellington NZ - Editor War Cry NZ
Dr Deidre Tronson - Sydney – Ret. Professor (academic)
Deidre has been impressed with the quality of so many of the young writers that as a second tier award, has given two copies of "Style Manual for Authors, Editors and Publishers."
Tony Dunkerley
The key note speaker for the young writer mini-conference is Melbourne's Mr Tony Dunkerley. Born in England, he migrated to Australia mid '60s, a UK based Multi-National - Australian Managing Director for 30 years, Australian Joeys Soccer Assistant Coach (ret), Victorian Under 21 Coach (ret), President Victorian Football (ret) and
Commissioner Junior Football (ret).
He is dng community soccer for refugee children and soken at prestigious Private and many Public Schools and been on innumerable Country Town Tours missions with us around rural and regional Australia.
Tony's specialty is Mentoring - every young writer is involved in mentoring, to young teenagers in our Christian circles to those of more mature years. Tony's been mentoring young soccer players, to top level soccer players, to Socceroos and so too in his business life.
Tony's session is on Friday 6 September 9.00am to 10.15am - he will speak for 35-40 minutes and leave the rest of the time for Q&A - this is a very practical session, the young writers have been encouraged to make well use of it by asking your questions, even if they think they might be too simple – they are often the important ones.
PSI Ministry
The PSI young writer program was established in 2008 and today there are 50 young writers, 29 are from Australia, 15 New Zealand and 6 are Australians and New Zealanders living overseas.
They each write one article a month in a five week program which has enjoyed significant readership through Christian Today and elsewhere as many get re-published. The key purpose of the young writer program is to provide these young writers with a "Voice" as the next generation of key note leaders in their fields of endeavour.
As in all voluntary endeavours, young people come and go, but on the whole there has been a steady influence by a core group of young writers who have developed a sense of ownership to the philosophy of having a "voice".
Christian Press / Media Award genre
These 'young writer' awards, are an encouragement to the winners to further develop their writing skills and as a valid acknowledgement of their writing endeavours for their CV.
Next year the New Zealand Young Writer Award will be transferred to Auckland or Christchurch coinciding with their mini-conferences. This year, both the Australian and New Zealand awards will be held at the PSI young writers mini-conference on the evening of Thursday 5 September.
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 has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html