2016 young writers conference – Tim Everton, Justin Monaghan and Brenden Bell
The Press Service International young writer program in conjunction with Christian Today has two 'statisticians' for the annual young writer conference 'awards' – one is based in Australia and the other in New Zealand.
Bill Chilcott from Canberra a retired statistician receives the Points from three sets of Panellists – the Australian, International and Sport groups and each Cycle tallies them onto a fiscal sheet so as to ascertain the progress through the first six months of the year.
Likewise Wellington New Zealand's Major Christina Tyson the head of the New Zealand Salvation Army's media unit tallies the Kiwi young writer's points from the New Zealand Panellists.
At the end of the 5th Cycle last month, we knew the winners, and were looking forward to getting the “Best Article' list from the Panellists for each group. The best articles are a favourite of the young writers, in so much as each young writer likes to know which of their respective articles the Panellists deemed their 'best'.
A professional certificate is produced for each young writer with their name and their best article – these are presented at the conference and for the international young writers and those in Australia and New Zealand who cannot attend, their best article is sent to them in October each year.
October is set for this distribution as it provides a wonderful incentive for the following year and does not distract from those who diligently arranged and planned to attend the August conference.
2016 Theology Award winner Thomas Devenish of Hobart
Tweed Daily Mail
In 2009 the Tweed Daily Mail (Tweed Heads) ran a feature and photograph of my wife Delma and I receiving the OMM – Olympic Ministry Medal – held in Atlanta USA and presented by Carl Lewis the Olympian of the Century.
The article explained that this was the equivalent of the International Sports Ministry “Gold Logies”.
Likewise our young writer awards in their respective categories are the equivalent of the 'International Youth Writer” of the year, ie, likened to the “Gold Logies”.
2016 NZ Theology Award winner – Tim Shallard of Auckland
A proper sing-song-and-dance
We make a proper sing-song-and-dance over these young writer awards as they
Awarded by independent Panellists
Represents the effort that went into writing
Acknowledges the prestige
Highlighted internationally
And why wouldn't we shout loudly with the joy of the Lord over such. It is such a pleasure seeing these young people achieve and then rejoice.
Who is in the running
The winners names are all secret. The plaques and certificates will not arrive at the conference until that morning and then kept under lock-and-key 'til the 'awards function' at 4.00pm.
Russell Modlin the young writer program's representative on the Well-Being Australia Board gets a peek as he is responsible for the names and awards being listed on the big screen – this format was initiated last year in Sydney and it went down very well. All I can say, Hollywood Logies, 'eat your heart out' – this is so good!
A short script - prepared by the week editors - is read out on each young writer as they come up for their award – and then these are later published in Christian Today.
Young writers from Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Papua New Guinea, USA, England and New Zealand have registered for the conference – that narrows it down – but we'll have to wait 'til 12 August.
2016 NZ Basil Sellers Winner plaque
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