Bishop Brian and May Carrell Kiwi young writer Panellist 'awards since 2013' – great supporter of the program.
Christchurch is the venue for the 2018 Press Service International young writer conference with a Saturday 25 August date and Saturday 1 September reserve date.
Two weeks ago, Thursday 30 August, Christchurch young writers Irenie How and Matt Joils met with Dr Mark and Delma Tronson to initiate discussions on this 2018 young writer conference.
Irenie How, the Kiwi young writer editor and artist Matt Joils were two of the New Zealand young writers who attended the 2017 young writers conference on the Sunshine Coast. Irenie also attended the 2016 young writer conference in Sydney. Irenie won the 2017 NZ Basil Sellers – Tronson Consistency Award and Matt the 2017 Basil Sellers Theology Award.
The agenda for the 2018 Christchurch young writer conference will follow the pattern from 'Sunshine Coast 2017' and there will be one major additional component, the official launch of the New Zealand Young Writers with their own legal entity.
Morning
2 Plenary's
Afternoon
Focus Groups
Launch of NZ Young Writers
Annual Awards
Irenie How and Matt Joils the planning team for the 2018 Christchurch young writer conference
October meeting
Irenie How and Matt Joils are putting together a detailed draft program which will include issues associated with:
program
billeting
transport
conference bags
badges
lunch
dinner options
To this end the Press Service International young writer Brain's Trust chair Sam Gillespie and his wife Salley are flying to Christchurch to meet with Irenie How and Matt Joils and work through the program and associated logistics.
Sam Gillespie has been in the Brain's Trust since 2015 and when Russell Modlin stood down from the chair, Sam was appointed. The current Brain's Trust for the young writer program is Sam Gillespie, Cheryl McGrath and Irenie How (NZ).
Sam Gillespie is doing his PhD in what the ordinary person like me, might interpret as 'Classical Composing' and has travelled the world as a member of the Sydney Chamber Choir. Cheryl McGrath is the CMS Victoria Communications Officer and the 2017 Australian Basil Sellers Award winner, and Irenie How the Kiwi young writer editor and the 2017 New Zealand Basil Sellers – Tronson Consistency Award recipient.
Sam Gillespie being presented by Dr Mark Tronson the 2017 Chairman's Award at the Sunshine Coast young writer conference
Christchurch
Christchurch is still undergoing major reconstruction after their two horrific earthquakes. While there two weeks ago, everywhere we walked around the city, re-building was happening.
The Christchurch Cathedral was still dilapidated (a proper mess) after the 2012 earthquakes with the new temporary Cathedral nearby. If anything, the Cathedral is an illustration of the destruction of the earthquake, yet the new temporary Cathedral shows the determination of the people of Christchurch not to be beaten.
Christchurch therefore seemed to be the ideal New Zealand city for the 2018 young writers conference to show our solidarity with the people of Christchurch and in particular the Christians of the city, brining our financial and moral input. This is a good thing.
Christchurch reconstruction continues after its two earthquakes
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 http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html