The original letter setting out cricket chaplaincy was on InterChurch Trade and Industry Mission (ITIM) letterhead as this was the original mission through which Mark Tronson established the sports ministry. Denis Rogers, the Tasmanian representative on the ACB and associated with Hobart Baptist Church, was conversant with this chaplaincy model and translated it to the sporting arena.
The 1984 ACB letter adopting chaplaincy spoke of the value of chaplaincy, that Mark Tronson was recognised as the cricket chaplain and that its careful development was in his hands.
ACB Chairman at this time, the late Fred Bennett from Sydney, was an inspiration to the Sports and Leisure Ministry. He had a lunch meeting with Mark Tronson and Reverend Roger Reid and Dr Ken Manley, and pledged his support for any publicity he could engender for the chaplaincy. As an aside, he noted the chaplain would be paid the same as the chairman (which is itself a honorary role!)
Mr Bennett suggested that another good supporter of the cricket ministry was fellow ACB board member from Sydney, Mr Allan Crompton (who subsequently followed Fred Bennett in the chairman's role). Indeed he was, and he was active in addressing sports chaplains' functions and attending national chaplains' dinners.
It was he who invited Mark Tronson to the Cricket Centennial Dinner and placed him with Mr Basil Sellers, who in turn financially supported the athlete respite centres and our family faith living, all of which can be read in Mr Basil Sellers' book, 'From India with Love'.
Delma Tronson, Mark's wife, says the secret of his cricket ministry was that he turned up without fail. He developed a formula of travelling four times each summer with the team to the training sessions. He was present on the first day of play, and was always available for home pastoral visits and all year round pastoral care, all around the nation.
In those early years, Mark Tronson appointed chaplains to each Sheffield Shield State Team, with those initial early '80s chaplains setting up their ministries in such a way that those who followed settled in very smoothly. Barrie Sutton (Victoria), Barry Ryall (Western Australia), Russell Hinds (Qld) and Greg Shaw (South Australia) played crucial roles in this.
Over a seventeen year period, to the end of 2000, he saw five generational changes of cricketers in the Australian team. When he moved sideways to his ministry 'Life After Cricket' in 2001, it was a natural extension of his relationship with retired cricketers. For example, the editorial team of his bi-annual newsletter for retired cricketers consists of Allan Border, Phil Emery, Jason Bakker, David Boon, Greg Chappell and Kim Hughes.
The cricket ministry is not just for retirees. Well-Being Australia has an active program for up-and-coming and current cricketers, which encompassed the AIS Cricket Centres of Excellence in SE Queensland. The latest developments include the annual Festival of Cricket initiated in 2005 where Delma and he were the chaplains, that he visited the AIS men's and women's cricket squads which included talks on the value of 'respite'.
In 2007 he initiated 'Cricket Family Respite' which incorporates the Basil Sellers Tweed respite facility for use by the cricket fraternity. Mark Tronson explained that he discussed this name with Allan Border and decided it was an apt name for the ministry.
Greg Chappell's interview of the Australian Missionary News IPTV can be viewed at tv.bushorchestra.com/Sport/videopages/Greg_Chappell.html
The miracle of this cricket ministry was its flying start, with the firm backing of those who understood the industrial chaplaincy model and applied it across the board. Mark Tronson's commitment to this particular sport has been buoyed up and supported by the Lord's guidance, and has enabled Mark to receive as much pleasure and support as he has had the good fortune to be able to give to the cricket community.
