Belinda Croft, a mum of three, won the Press Service International 2015 Basil Sellers Young Writer $1000 Award on Saturday 1 August in Sydney.
As the winner, Belinda received a Basil Sellers $1000 cheque, a medallion and a small 25 x 30 cm art work by Tronson du Coudray.
A team of Panellists over 25 weeks determined the Australian winner for 2015 with Belinda Croft a clear winner. Belinda and her family have been in Melbourne for almost four years and they have now relocated back to Queensland where husband Russell is keen to get into school chaplaincy.
Belinda Croft produces the pre and post conference DVDs which are housed on our ministry's YouTube channel. Belinda is an experienced producer of videos, one of her skills learnt and developed from her father who was in television production.
Belinda Croft's articles may be found on her Press Service International web presence CV site which houses her portfolio of articles. Belinda Croft is a fitting and popular 2015 winner.
The history is that since 2008 Press Service International has had articles published in Christian Today in a young writer program which today boasts 85 such young people writing a monthly 'Comment' piece along with some 'Christian News' articles.
Three years ago Well-Being Australia's major sponsor Mr Basil Sellers AM agreed to give an annual $1000 award for the Panellists winner – Basil Sellers Award.
List of winners
Basil Sellers Award
2015 - Belinda Croft
2014 - Danielle Stott
2013 - Alison Barkley
Five Panellists marked every Australian young writer's articles from January 20 to July 10 and it was these tallies that determined the winner. These five Panellists were:
Aira Chilcott - Canberra
Deidre Tronson - Sydney
Natalie Chu - Christian Today
John Skinner - Warwick
Gavin Lawrie - Tweed Heads
Press Service International young writer program with Christian Today, the 3rd largest Christian News provider in the world. It is one of the most astonishing features in publishing young people.
2015 Australian Winners
Basil Sellers Award
Belinda Croft - Melbourne
Tronson – Consistency (three drawn)
Charlotte Goiris - Melbourne
Jeremy Dover - Melbourne
Rebecca Moore - Sunshine Coast
Theological Award
Sam Manchester - Sydney
Most Improved
Christopher Archibald - Sydney
Tim Robertson - Sydney
New Young Writers – Most Improved Award
Michael Dahlenburg - Adelaide
Liana Monaghan - Victor Harbour
IT Award
Zach Radloff - Gold Coast
Chairman's Philosophical Award
Russell Modlin - Sunshine Coast
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.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html