The 'Best of the Best' young writer in the Press Service International columnist writer program with Christian Today results determined by the Australian and New Zealand Panellists as a combined effort - has shown seven were marked, wait for it, only two points apart.
The Best of the Best involved the top five columnists from both Australia and New Zealand (as determined in the 2014 awards) and marked by the Panellists in the "final Cycle of articles in 2014 program".
This was a concept drawn up by Christchurch's the Rt Rev Brian Carrell one of the New Zealand Panellists, as an end of year celebration from late last year.
Best of the Best results
86 points
Jeremy Suisted – Cambridge NZ
Sophia Sinclair – Christchurch NZ
85 points
Danielle Carney-Stott – Gold Coast
Sarah Urmston - Melbourne
Kandima Awendila - ambique
84 points
Thomas Devenish - Hobart
Brad Mills – Auckland NZ
All young writers in the Best of the Best group scored over 80 points, illustrating the high standard of articles.
September awards Australian top columnists
Danielle Carney - Gold Coast
Sarah Young - Melbourne
Kandima Awendila - Gold Coast
Thomas Devenish - Hobart
Sarah Urmston - Melbourne
September awards New Zealand top columnists
Jeremy Suisted - Cambridge (Hamilton)
Sophia Sinclair - Christchurch
Brad Mills - Auckland
Tash McGill - Auckland
2015 Panellists – 4 groups
Last year there were three groups of Panellists: Australia, New Zealand and Sport and for some, the task was getting too much. In 2015 an additional group was injected into the system, International, so as to reduce the marking burden.
Australian Panellists
Aira Chilcott - Canberra
Gavin Lawrie - Tweed Heads
Deidre Tronson - Sydney
Natalie Chu - Christian Today
John Skinner - Warwick
New Zealand Panellists
Brian Carrell - Christchurch
Liz Hay - Christchurch
Peter Grace - Auckland
Deidre Tronson - Sydney
Natalie Chu - Christian Today
International Panellists
Christina Tyson - Wellington
Vic Matthews - Moruya
Euan McDonald - Laidley
Deidre Tronson - Sydney
Natalie Chu - Christian Today
Sport Panellists
David Burr - Melbourne
Ruth Sellers - Hong Kong
Simon Farrer - Melbourne
Tim Wilson - Canada
Peter Nelson - Canberra
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.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html