I'm putting my regular article on the EPL (England Premier League) Soccer on hold this time round, as this came up two days ago when watching Easter Monday's Stawell Gift on television, the most famous Australian professional foot-race. The television broadcast ran a session on the Stawell Gift's Hall of Fame.
The camera panned along the photographs of past Stawell Gift champions while the commentator gave a description of this very popular tourist facility and spoke of some of the athletes.
Australia's most highly recognised Hall of Fame is that of Cricket. Each February at the Allan Border Medal evening a new name or names are added to this illustrious list. Many sports around the world have their own Halls of Fame.
It is one way to celebrate those persons in their respective sport, who have excelled in their field, where due recognition is given to their achievements.
Sport is in a unique position to celebrate its champions as their record is there for all to see. For example, today, with the Internet, I can bring up each Cricketer's achievements, past and present. You are not required to be a cricket tragic to know the never ending statistics in cricket, they are on-line.
My father Mark Tronson, now 61, served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years to 2000. When I was at high school, I'd get an annual treat to a Melbourne fixture,. He would do his ministry the day before the fixture (I would be with friends), and then I'd attend with these friends a one-day international.
My parents have been missionaries for 31 years and I've noticed there are not Hall of Fames for Christian Ministers, Evangelists, Missionaries, the committed laity, as there wouldn't be enough buildings in the world to house their sacrificial services to a needy world - over the centuries. Obviously, they have a very different agenda.
None the less, my father last week underwent surgery, he was allowed home, then three days later went back into hospital after an infection, then home again, he has to be very careful as he's had further bleeding.
He often cites his friend Ron Ross a fellow missionary who served with a number of missionary agencies who was the WIN4 Sports Editor in the years he wrote the hockey (early '70s) in Wollongong. Years later in 1994, Ron Ross then in Noosa in Ministry, had a weekly column in the local paper.
Ron Ross noted that missionary Dr Mark Tronson the Australian cricket team chaplain was visiting his elderly parents in Noosa (my late grand parents) and noted his name won't be in known here, but in heaven his name is in capital letters.
That's good enough for me as a Hall of Fame.
Wesley Tronson is a bank manager on the Gold Coast and lived in England for seven years to 2010 in banking and soccer.
Wesley Tronson's previous articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/wesley-tronson.html
