2016 Basil Sellers Young Writer Award winner, South Australian Tim Everton
The 2017 annual young writers conference is on Saturday 12 August on the Sunshine Coast and much preparation has been unrelenting to ensure the program runs smoothly.
Each year, to ensure young writers from interstate can make the annual conference, regardless of where it is held, Press Service International has an inbuilt arrangement with Well-Being Australia's young writer literary program, providing financial help with some air fare scholarship funding from Mr Basil Sellers AM.
To this end the young writer program is rejoicing in that six of the seven South Australian young writers will be at the 12 August young writer conference. Having six of the seven attend is a remarkable outcome.
In the overall stakes of conference attendances, we are aware some young writers are unable to make it as the 12 August is already booked. Some will be at weddings, others will be overseas, family functions such as birthdays, others have prior ministry engagements or church do's! This is conference life 101.
Therefore out of seven South Australian young writers, six can make it - that is a massive %. Consider this - 6 out 7, I'm sure those with arithmetic skills or have a calculator handy, will tell me the precise percentage.
Michael Dahlenburg, Tim Everton, Justin Monaghan, Conor Ryan
South Australians attending
Tim Everton - 2016 Basil Sellers winner
Tim works with youth and established a miniature town enterprise.
Bonnie Dowie - missionary - African language school
Bonnie is home from Africa and heading back at some time.
Michael Dahlenburg - engineer
Michael is our ‘new young writer’ coordinator - Michael is the first link in the chain for a new young writer into the program.
Conor Ryan - Landscaper
This is Conor’s first year as a young writer
Justin Monaghan - professional artist
Justin is a professional artist and painted Midge Point Beach sunrise which hangs in the Laguna Quays Respite lounge room.
Liana Monaghan - song writer
Liana works as a professional nanny and her clients have asked for her songs
These two amazing young people, Justin and Liana, have a dream of purchasing a 'mission' farm type property in the vicinity of Adelaide and setting up an artist’s ‘live in’ ministry.
Justin and Liana Monaghan, South Australian young writers
12 August young writers conference
The 2017 young writer's conference is being held at the Alexander Park Conference Centre, at Alexander Headland, Sunshine Coast, on Saturday 12 August from 9.00am to 6.00pm.
This year the conference begins with a swashbuckling display in Musketeer period dress (Fencing) as two of the young writers are part of the Sunshine Coast Fencing Club and recently promoted on Channel 7 news. https://www.facebook.com/SallEnGarde/videos/933996726696114/
There are two plenary's one by Mr Mark Furler the former editor of the Sunshine Coast Daily and now with AAP, his topic 'News Angles' and the second on Blogging by John Lemmon.
There are young writer interviews through the day along with small group discussion and the annual Awards at 4.00pm.
South Australian young writer Bonnie Dowie
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