Kandima Awendila (ambique) with Ashley and Miranda Menelaws (Australian and Canadian)
Each year the Australian and New Zealand statisticians collate the four sets of points from the panellists who mark the young writers in the Press Service International – Christian Today program and from those points the Best Article of each young writer is determined.
At the awards evening each year the Best Article of each young writer is announced along with a short description by their respective Week Editors which is shown on the big screen and read out when the young writers comes to the front for their certificate.
Morning tea on conference day
2017 Best Articles
Tim Everton - A sense of the blue blood
Tim's writing covers a diverse range of topics—everything from pop culture to creativity. Tim is from South Australia and has been writing for Press Service International since 2014.
Jo Fuller - This too shall pass
Jo Fuller is a writer from the Sunshine Coast who writes with great clarity and sensitivity. She writes about topics such as motherhood, family life, and trusting God in every situation.
Emily Black - The man Jesus talks about
Emily Black lives in Melbourne where she is studying towards a Bachelor of Arts. Emily's skill and love for creative writing is evident in her comment pieces—which reflect on faith in a raw and authentic way.
Peter Brookshaw - The age of the armchair critic
Peter Brookshaw lives in Craigieburn where he is the senior minister of the Salvation Army church. He writes about leadership and integrity, social trends and social change, and living in freedom.
Sam Gillespie - Community
Sam encourages us to be more critical and discerning of everything we see, not taking anything we are fed by the media at face value. He looks at creative ways to solve problems and writes about a wide range of topics including the 'games' industry.
Justin Monaghan - Cruise life and the servants behind the luxury
Justin is an artist and a surfer, seeking to go deeper with God and being adventurous riding the waves of the Holy Spirit. He is passionate about seeing people through God’s eyes and relying on the Spirit for inspiration in his art and his writing.
Jessica McPherson (Christchurch NZ), Bonnie Dowie (Adelaide), Liana Monaghan (Adelaide) and Panellist Aira Chilcott (Canberra)
Bridget Brenton - Being that person with poor self control
Bridget Bridget is not afraid to tackle hard issues and things that people may want to avoid. Her personal testimonies are heart-wrenching, but she also writes from a broad range of experience and interests, from politics, to family, to Christian life.
Cheryl McGrath - It's not about being right
As a professional communicator in a missionary organisation, Cheryl has a heart that looks outward towards missions and ministry. Her writing encourages us to look wider for ministry opportunities.
Caitlyn Furler - The God who makes a way for rest
In her 1st year 'creative studies' at uni, Caitlyn has focused on God’s faithfulness as she negotiates this new season in her life. She has given deep insights into our human condition, dealing with such things as hope, disappointment, hindsight and rest.
Bonnie Dowie - Oh the places you'll go … when you say yes
Bonnie does not pull punches in describing her love for God and her passion for relationships and family. Her sensitive and empathetic writing is providing a sound foundation on which to build her desire to work in developing countries.
Conor Ryan - The new conservative counter culture
Conor’s reveals that he is a deep philosophical thinker for whom the grace of God overcomes. Conor’s is not just an intellectual understanding of our faith walk, but encompasses emotional and physical aspects of life as he examines trends in society.
Leigh Clough - Your presence is cordially required
Leigh Clough is a new young writer, he is in business and brings to his writing a depth of Christian experience and church leadership and preaching. Be brings insight and value-add to his articles.
Tom Anderson - Life after 29: When you’ve seen it all before
Tom Anderson is a new young writer, he is a family man and his writing reflects issues associated with life, family, his experiences and a breadth of travel and inter-state living.
Tomorrow the list continues.
Beckie Bowie (England) presented her Best Article
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.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html