There are quite a number of 2018 new panellists in the Press Service International young writer program in conjunction with Christian Today who mark the 85 young writer articles in the first half of each year.
Next year, the young writer program starts on Monday 15 January with the marking season running through to mid-July with the awards conference being held in Christchurch New Zealand on Saturday 1 September.
The panellists are divided into separate groups:
Australian
New Zealand
International
Sport
Last September Press Service International held an Awards Commission chaired by New Zealand Panellist Christina Tyson (Salvation Army) and one outcome of the Awards Commission is as follows:
18–30 years of age — Basil Sellers Award
Over 31s — a separate award
What this means – are additional panellists for the Over 31s.
There are 10 young writers over 31 in the Australians and there are 9 Over 31s in the New Zealand and Internationals combined, The amounts to 10 more panellists.
Along with additional panellists in the major groups filling spots — as it were.
New Panellists
New Zealand
Wayne Graham
Sarah Richards
Sport
Josh Robbie
Wayne Graham the editor of Daily Encourager, whereas Sarah Richards is the editor of the Bible Society of New Zealand. These are experienced people. Josh Robbie from South Africa will add something special to the sport panellists.
New Panellists for the Over 31s
Brad Mills
Tim McDonald
Peter Rope
Talisa Pariss
Annemarie de Villiers
Jack Liang
Brad Mills from Auckland is a former Kiwi young writer, winner of the 2014 Sport Award and the 2015 and 2016 2nd place NZ Basil Sellers.
Tim McDonald from Mackay was one of our very first Australians young writers 2011–12 before the awards were established.
Peter Rope from Auckland was a Kiwi young writer 2012–14 and became a New Zealand Panellist in 2015–16, and took a break in 2017.
Talissa Pariss from Brisbane is a former Australian young writers 2015–16 and won 2nd place in 2016 in the Australian Basil Sellers Award.
Annemarie de Villiers from Melbourne won both the 2013 and 2014 Sport Writer Awards being the only young lady amongst the 4 young men - following on from another young woman sport writer now serving overseas in mission.
Jack Liang from Sydney has been in the young writer program for four years and has introduced numerous other young people.
2018 looks like a fun year for the panellists.
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
Dr Mark Tronson - a 4 min video
Chairman – Well-Being Australia
Baptist Minister 45 years
- 1984 - Australian cricket team chaplain 17 years (Ret)
- 2001 - Life After Cricket (18 years Ret)
- 2009 - Olympic Ministry Medal – presented by Carl Lewis
- 2019 - The Gutenberg - (ARPA Christian Media premier award)
Gutenberg video - 2min 14sec
Married to Delma for 45 years with 4 children and 6 grand children