The Australasian Religious Press Association (ARPA) presented their premier award The Gutenberg to this young writer ministry – Press Service International - in Christchurch, 6 September 2019.
This raised a question in the mind of Christian Today Editor David Chang - he is keen that the young writers to stay-on into the Over 31s and then become ‘senior writers’ rather than bringing in writers of more mature years.
While in Adelaide prior to Christmas at the young writer dinner on Monday 23 December, this was raised with Adelaide’s Justin and Liana Monaghan, that rather than moving on as Over 31s, staying on and sharing a ‘senior writer’ spot – each of them writing every 10 weeks rather than once every 5 weeks.
The primary focus of the young writers is the 18-30 age group and we welcome enquiries of young people to an international column with Christian Today.
Moving to senior writers
This has led to a number of the Over 31s moving into the senior writer ranks. The senior writers were originally set up for those young writers wanting to continue writing but were over the Over 31s age group.
Moreover, a number of the panellists wanted to write also as an encouragement to the young writers, so in effect, the senior writers were an aberration to the young writer program.
Therefore for many years we have enjoyed the encouragement of senior writers who fell into one of the other group and an occasional outsider slipped in due to a variety of circumstances.
Over 31s moving into senior writers
Peter Brookshaw - Melbourne
Phil Hall - Melbourne
Neville Hiatt - Melbourne
Justin / Liana Monaghan - Adelaide
Jo Fuller - Sunshine Coast
Michael Dahlenburg / Tim Everton - Adelaide
David Roberts - West Indies
Phil Hall, Neville Hiatt and David Roberts are now in their 40s and were natural contenders for senior writers.
Peter Brookshaw, Jo Fuller, Michael Dahlenburg and Justin / Liana Monaghan are all Over 31s Award Winners, and likewise natural for senior writers. Tim Everton dropped out 2 years ago and was the 2016 Australian Basil Sellers Award, now returning as a senior writer.
2020 senior writers
Group 1
Jeremy Dover - Melbourne
Vic Matthews - Moruya
Genevieve Wilson - Canada
Mark Rusic - Melbourne
Group 2
Gavin Lawrie - Gold Coast
John Lemmon - Melbourne
David Goodwin - Melbourne
Peter Brookshaw - Melbourne
David Roberts - West Indies
Group 3
John Skinner - Warwick
Russell Modlin - Sunshine Coast
John Yates - Perth
Graham McDonald - Sydney
Neville Hiatt - Melbourne
Phil Hall - Melbourne
Justin / Liana Monaghan
Group 4
Liz Hay - Castle Hill, NZ
Susan Barnes - Albury
Christine Tyson - Wellington, NZ
Grant Harris - Auckland, NZ
Esther Koh - Wellington, NZ
Wayne Graham - Wellington, NZ
Group 5
Rebecca Moore - Sunshine Coast
Aira Chilcott - Canberra
Sheelagh Wegman - Hobart
Jo Fuller - Sunshine Coast
Michael Dahlenburg / Tim Everton
Gavin Lawrie a retired barrister coordinates the senior writers with one due date each Cycle - similarly as do the Kiwis and International young writers.
Press Service International is looking for additional young writers 18-30 years of age - timeout@bushorchestra.com or chin wag with Mark Tronson on 0419 917 713
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. Dr Mark Tronson’s Press Service International in 2019 was awarded the Australasian Religious Press Association’s premier award, The Gutenberg.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html