Kiwi young writer Crystelda Naidoo won the New Zealand Tronson Award presented at the annual young writers conference on the Gold Coast on Saturday.
The Awards are presented at 4.00pm of the conference each year – there are a number of awards but with Covid 19 restrictions many were unable to attend in 2020.
Each of the Kiwi young writers in the Press Service International program in conjunction with Christian Today sent in their BEST article for the five Panellists to mark out of 25 - the 25 mark was chosen as in previous years there have been too many multiple winners out of 10 marks.
The New Zealand Panellists
Brian Carrell - a retired Anglican Bishop
Christina Tyson - retired Sallies Media editor
Liz Hay - a retired professional editor
Wayne Graham - editor of the Daily Encourager
Sarah Richards - former editor NZ Bible Society
Tronson Award
The Tronson Award has two string attributes – the first is a top result by the Panellists, the second is engaged in the Press Service International ministry.
Matthew Thornton
Matthew Thornton is studying at the University of Auckland, Matthew finds that writing is one of the prime ways he connects with and grows closer to God. He loves seeing the way in which God has wired everyone uniquely and finds immense fulfilment in seeing others discover who God is to them.
Matthew was awarded the ARPA – Australasian Religious Press Association – New Best Writer Award (Bronze) in 2019 at the ARPA conference held in Christchurch.
We asked New Zealand Salvation Army media guru Major Christina Tyson who is a foundation NZ senior writer and a NZ Panellist to select the 7 nominations for ARPA Awards. Of those Matthew Thornton was awarded.
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 25 books, and enjoys writing. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand. Dr Mark Tronson’s Press Service International in 2019 was awarded ‘The Gutenberg’ - the Australasian Religious Press Association’s premier award. In September 2020 Summer Moore presented her commission portrait of Dr Mark Tronson holding the Gutenberg plaque. He and David Chang editor of Christian Today together bought the young writer ministry into fruition in 2009. In 2011 Mark established Laguna Quays Respite (Whitsundays) for missionary respite and replicated at Aldinga Beach 2016 (Adelaide) and Greens Beach Bass Straight (TAS). His ministry is honoured all these years by Christian philanthropist Mr Basil Sellers AM. He is married to Delma (44 years), with four adult married children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at https://www.pressserviceinternational.org/dr-mark-t.html
