A bold move by Press Service International (PSI) for the 2016 young writer program with Christian Today is incorporating a number of young writers as Panellists who determine the annual Basil Sellers Awards.
This decision was a follow-up on the young writer policy encouraging young people to be published and therefore the next obvious step was to see them become the Panellists.
The Panellists in 2016 are marking in the same categories as the last few years – these are
Australian young writers
New Zealand young writers
International young writers
Sport young writers
The difference is that these categories will only exist in this format for the first three Cycles. As there are a total of 80 plus young writers, these young people are divided into 5 separate weeks with a maximum of 25 young writers per week.
Fresh format
This three Cycle component is important as in the past years of the Basil Sellers Awards - we have known at the end of the third cycle who the eventual winners will be - the statistical analysis has shown to be that clear.
At the end of those three Cycles where each young writer has written three articles each, for Cycles 4 and 5 the leading 'points' six young writers from each of the Australian, New Zealand and Internationals will be marked by all three sets of Panellists.
This has come about due to the following considerations
a) All the Panellists get their say as to the annual Basil Sellers Award
b) The expense of too many awards was becoming prohibitive
In 2016 these are the only financial awards
- Basil Sellers Award
- Consistency Awards
Young writers as Panellists
The following young writers will be Panellists in 2016.
Jeremy Dover - Australian young writer Panellist
Tash McGill - New Zealand young writer Panellist
Dr Nathanael Yates - International young writer Panellist
Daniel Stott - International young writer Panellist
Sophia Sinclair - International young writer Panellist
Peter Rope - New Zealand young writer Panellist
Tim Wilson - Sport young writer Panellist
Jeremy Dover (Melbourne) has been one of the PSI original Australian young writers, a former marathon runner, a sports scientist and pastor, Jeremy has been serving in 'community' ministry areas for the past two years.
Tash McGill (Auckland) was an original New Zealand young writer with a vast wealth of youth ministry and Christian prophetess with her speaking (internationally and domestically) and blogs.
Dr Nathanael Yates (Perth) has been a young writer since 2010 and was the Young Scientist of the Year and interviewed on the Australian Missionary News IPTV. Nathanael awarded his PhD this year.
Daniel Stott (Melbourne) hales from New Zealand and moved to the Sunshine Coast with his family when a teenager. He and Danielle attended Bible College in Melbourne and then spent six years on the Gold Coast returning to Melbourne this year. Daniel is an educator. Daneille won the Basil Sellers in 2014.
Sophia Sinclair (Sydney and Christchurch) lives most of her year in Sydney as her husband Andrew is reading theology at the SMBC. Sophia was the NZ CMS editor and was the Consistency Winner in both 2013 and 2014 and last year the Basil Sellers winner and serves as the young writer editor.
Peter Rope (Auckland) was an original 2012 New Zealand young writer. Peter is an avid reader and writer of philosophy and attended both the 2013 and 2014 New Zealand young writer conferences.
Tim Wilson (Canada) was a YWAM leader in Brisbane for 9 years, married a Canadian girl and young writer Genevieve, and with their three children live in Canada. Tim is in the corporate world.
The Panellists
These above join the existing Panellists
Australia
Gavin Lawrie - Tweed Heads
John Skinner - Warwick
Dr Deidre Tronson - Sydney
Aira Chilcott - Canberra
Jeremy Dover - Melbourne
Walson Mathew - Sydney
New Zealand
Rev Rt Brian Carrell - Christchurch
Ms Liz Hay - Christchurch
Peter Rope - Auckland
Ms Tash McGill - Auckland
Dr Deidre Tronson - Sydney
Mr Brent Costley - North Palmerston
International
Rev Euan McDonald - Brisbane
Dr Vic Matthews - Moruya
Dr Nathanael Yates - Perth
Daniel Stott - Melbourne
Dr Deidre Tronson - Sydney
Ms Sophia Sinclair - Christchurch
Sport
David Burr - Melbourne
Simon Farrer - Melbourne
Peter Nelson - Canberra
Andrew Bennett - Mole River
Tim Wilson - Canada
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