The 2016 young writers conference and the awards once again illustrated what a splendid group of young people make up the Press Service International young writer contingent.
Forward thinking decisions will see the 2017 annual conference held on the Sunshine Coast and wait for it, the 2018 young writer conference in Auckland New Zealand.
Sunshine Coast's Russell Modlin who represents the young writers on the Well-Being Australia board put his hand up for a Sunshine Coast based conference two years ago and 2017 has the green light. Russell is a teacher at a Sunshine Coast Christian School.
Although Sydney has been convenient for direct air flights from across Australia and to and from New Zealand, with 2018 designated conference for New Zealand, it seemed appropriate that in 2017 it's the Sunshine Coast.
2017 Sunshine Coast
Another far reaching decision has been made in relation to the annual conferences, that the young writers in those specific locations will run the entire conference – planning, arranging speakers, fixing accommodation, coordination and set-up.
This means that the young writers based on the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane will be invited to a 2017 conference planning meeting the last weekend of October on the Sunshine Coast.
These young writers will come together to consider what sort of conference they imagine might be exciting and challenging and how they might make every person coming from interstate and New Zealand very welcome.
Invited to meet are these current young writers:
Russell Modlin
Rebecca Moore
Charis Jackson
Brenden Bell
Beckie Bowie
Joseph Kolapudi
Cartia Moore
Haydn Lea
Jo Fuller
Talisa Pariss
Caitlyn Furler
Bridget Brenton
Already lined up is a demonstration in period dress of the art of sword fighting as shown recently on Channel 7 – there are young writers involved in the fencing group.
2018 New Zealand
The 2017 ARPA conference is being held the last weekend of August in Auckland and as my wife Delma and I attended this, the Sunday afternoon we will meet with Auckland young writers to initiate planning the 2018 conference.
As the Sunshine Coast young writers will the 2017 conference, so too the New Zealand young writers will put together the 2018 conference.
This is a major development giving the young writers from each conference location the responsibilities of the entire conference.
It shall be quite a treat for many young writers who have never travelled to the Sunshine Coast or to New Zealand – and just maybe a jumping board for a tourist experience.
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