Wesley Mission's Graeme Cole was awarded the 2016 Australasian Religious Press Association's 2016 Gutenberg on Saturday night at their Gala Awards dinner in Sydney.
Graeme Cole is the editor of Wesley Impact the magazine of Wesley Mission, he has won 16 ARPA awards over these past years, and he coordinates media and government relations for Wesley. As an aside he is an experienced secular media journalism and in his ministry career Graeme Cole was for some years the South Sydney Rugby League team chaplain.
Each year the Gutenberg is awarded to a Christian media organisation or a person as the highest recognition of this Christian media association it its 42 years. Last year it was won by Melbourne Anglican Media.
Friday
Karl Faase CEO of Olive Tree Media kicked off 2016 ARPA where he analysed the future of the 'Word' in Australia. His eight points highlighted issues for consideration. A number of these were to trust the message, to seriously reassess how we talk of 'love' as the be all and end all, how tone is incredibly important, avoiding disputes over minor theological issues, keep talking the message of Jesus and be wise and clear in public discourse.
Friday evening was the first panel of the conference fasciculated by the ABC's John Cleary with panellists John Sandeman Eternity editor and veteran SMH journalist, Mark Brody Melbourne Anglican and former Herald Sun veteran, Mardi Lumsden Journey Qld UCA editor and Aoife Conners (pronounced the Irish way Efee, Catholic Archbishops communications). The discussion centred on the nature of Christian communication, a highly appreciated session.
Saturday
There were two morning sessions, the first Dr Shane Clifton and his team Helena McNeill and Louise Gosbell on disabilities. Dr Clifton is in a wheelchair and spoke of the stages of his realisation he would never walk and being part of a penetcostal church is quite a statement. This was a remarkable session.
The second morning session was another panel on the future of ARPA itself - 2024 is it's 50th anniversary. This created wide discussion not least ARPA finances, who might be added into the philosophy of the association. This was coordinated by Penny Mulvey editor of Crosslight VIC UCA, who later at the AGM led the charge to ensure that all future ARPA awards, the recipients need to be there. This was endorsed by 100% which is line with many other similar associations. It lets down the side otherwise.
The two afternoon sessions focused on Social Media led by Press Service International's chief editor Sophia Sinclair and Eternity's social media coordinator Tegan Russell. It was brilliant particularly in this ever changing world.
The other session was on mental health facilitated by Graeme Cole of Wesley Mission with three distinguished professionals from Wesley's Hospitals. This session should have been mandatory.
2016 Awards
Ashley Thomson from Journey Qld UCA won the 2016 Ramon Williams ARPA Scholarship and the other awards were named and shown on the big screen. These are always a highlight, culminating in the Gutenberg.
Next year it is to Auckland 25-27 August .... bring your woollies!
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