|PIC1|As Chairman of Well-Being Australia which highlights the value of our talented young sportspeople with appropriate respite through 'Basil Sellers Tweed' and 'Basil Sellers Moruya', he questions whether the nation places the same value on young people of equal talent in other fields of endeavour.
M V Tronson has submitted a short quiz in this area:
1. Which prominent International Olympiads are held every year, usually in July?
2. Which teams returned in 2008 with every member having won a medal (plus one fifth member with an Honourable Mention)?
3. Which team won two gold medals, and contained a person who was ranked 10th in the whole world?
4. Which whole team is 'back in the top 20' in 2008, after winning the 'Ashes' against UK?
ANSWERS:
1. International Science and Mathematics Olympiads
2. Chemistry, Biology, Maths, Physics.
3. Biology
4. Mathematics.
C'MON, AUSSIE, C'MON...C'MON.....
Where were the press photos? Where were the wonderful, smiling faces showing these youngsters (year 11 and 12) from all types of ethnic background, from all States of Australia, with their dedicated coaches, triumphant with their medals?
"These people are equally as talented as sports or music stars; they train and work just as hard at using their talents to the fullest ability. Where was their public recognition?" questions Baptist minister of 31 years, M V Tronson. "As in most other recent years, when results have been just as exceptional as this, they were kept invisible. These are just as much the Olympics and indeed, much much more."
Moreover, comments M V Tronson, sportspeople need to retire when their muscles and joints get a bit stiff and tired. These young scientists also will get tired muscles and joints, as many are also keen sportspeople and musicians, but they will not need to retire. Their minds will keep functioning, and they can keep working at their maximum capacity until well after official retirement (many scientists take Honorary, Emeritus or voluntary work in their autumn years). This can only be good for our nation.
Australians continually decry the fact that 'good ideas' have to 'go overseas' to become commercial realities acknowledges M V Tronson.
He therefore asks a subsequent question. "What if we gave as much credit to our young Science Olympians as to our sporting heroes? Would this help Australians in business when looking for philanthropic projects so as to recognise the value of these talented youngsters at the beginning of their careers, getting ready for the future?"
There are two vital ingredients required for this change in attitude, says M V Tronson.
First, these sxcience groups require 'a publicist' who can weave an angle from a story. Who gets a feature story in sports? A Christian athlete is always good for a feature story. Why not a Christian young scientist who has to deal with questions and theories of 'How'? A Christian young scientist might have something very interesting to say on their view of the 'Why'.
Second, the arena of sport is based on victories and losses in spite of difficulties. Why not show that this is the same in the sciences? The media exudes the exhilaration of victory, and the despair of losing by a hundredth of a second. Such stories are there at the touch of a telephone call to a major city daily or an email to their news desk.
Success in attracting the media, is gently leading a journalist to the very story they've been searching for. By-lines are not insigificant for up-and-coming journalists, they're like a CV.
Moreover, there are numerous journalists who realise the value of science in our community. To ensure these journalists get the 'ear' of their editors (to ensure the story is then published), family members and friends of these young scientists 'must' badger these media outlets. The squeakly wheel gets the oil.
"If all else fails, get the placquards out and picket the media outlet's front door, anything to get the publicity," M V Tronson noted.
As in sports, so too in every other avenue of life, the Christian view is that God provides the talents for His children to enjoy and for the benefit of mankind. The Scriptures in James 1 verse 17 says this by rendering, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."
"This is the basis of the Olympic Ministry RT2008BM (Right Track 2008 Beijing Mission) and it applies equally to every God given talent," said M V Tronson.
M V Tronson, an author of five books on field hockey then exclaimed, "Now where was I, yes that's right, back to the field hockey in Beijing ....."