In 2012 young writer Jeremy Dover rang Well-Being Australia’s national office and spoke with me, that upon his heart he sought to initiate an awards system for the young writer ministry.
That idea was being tossed around by Well-Being Australia’s long time supporter Mr Basil Sellers AM and together pushed forward with Jeremy Dover’s initial agenda.
In 2013 the Basil Sellers Award was initiated
Australian young writers
New Zealand young writers
Other awards initiated
Over the years other awards were included – which included
Theology recommended by then chief editor Sophia Sinclair,
Tronson award for those engaged in a wider young writer program brief than just writing,
Internationals
Sport writers award and later the
Youth Development Award
Chairman’s Award
Age groups also
Australia Over 31s
Internationals Over 31s
In 2020 senior writer Aira Chilcott recommended that we have a Senior writer award fpr those between the Over 31s and the Masters Writers (Over 45).
Panellists
Each of these groups required separate Panellists to mark the annual awards as it was too much work for one group of Panellists. Now there are 7 groups of 5 Panellists.
But that was getting too much work marking every article in the first six months of the year - so in 2020 the young writer awards program changed to follow the ARPA model (Australian Religious Press Association) which was for each young writer to select their BEST article for marking. This greatly reduced the work load.
The issue arose who would coordinate –or link - the young writers BEST articles to the 5 Panellists in their group. This was resolved with the appointment of Connect persons – the young writers sent in their BEST article to their respective Connect person. The Connect person forwarded the BEST articles to respective 5 Panellists.
Logistics
The name of the game is getting the logistics right. Clear advice to the young writers to send their BEST article to their Connect person with a due date - then the Connect persons forwarding the BEST articles to the Panellists.
Statisticians
There are 4 statisticians who receive the Panellist markings.
Bill Chilcott - Statistician for Aust 18-30 and Internationals 18-30.
John Grocott - Statistician for Over 31s - Aust / Internationals and Seniors
Liz Hay - Statistician for the Kiwi young writers
Jeremy Dover - Statistician for the Sport writers.
All this keeps founder and chairman of Well-Being Australia Dr Mark Tronson at arms length of the awards. The annual awards are presented at the annual conference, in 2021 on the Gold Coast - in person or by Zoom.