Well-Being Australia's chairman Mark Tronson, an artist himself, says that the WBA 'Art Ministry' has developed good relationships with many institutions over the past five years with art displayed at the Calders Restaurant at Kingscliff TAFE, to art at both Peppers and Mantra Salt, promotion in the Gold Coast Visitors Guide and for some time, with the Southern Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce winner of the 2009 Coolangatta Restaurant of the Year 'Cooli's Steak and Seafood'.
Cooli's Steak and Seafood had two Well-Being Australia Art Ministry free standing paintings on display as fund raisers for a twelve month period before the GFC hit. And hit it did, for numerous Coolangatta and Tweed Heads businesses found the going tough. Cooli's Steak and Seafood closed it doors.
Yet, this restaurant not only won that covetous award, the were also giving cheap breakfasts Saturday and Sunday morning's and offered to provide an even cheaper breakfast for local Christian youth groups. Instead of going down to Maccas, they could come to Cooli's Steak and Seafood for an old fashion bacon and eggs. .
Mark Tronson who paints under the name 'Tronson du Coudray – the missionary painter' who initiated this Art Ministry way back in 2000, has always found willing partners for fund raising art in various restaurants and resorts.
Prior to moving to the Tweed in December 2005 to duplicate the Well-Being Australia respite ministry from Moruya on the New South Wales south coast, he established the Basil Sellers Art Centre in Moruya and the Basil Sellers $10,000 Bi-Annual Art Prize, now $15,000.
With such a background in the arts and how this public activity can bring such good-will within a community, it was a delight to Mark Tronson when Cooli's Steak and Seafood spoke to him of these ideas.
The GFC has hit many Tweed Heads and Coolangatta business houses let alone the service industry such as restaurants. A recent Tweed Heads resident, a neighbour of Mark Tronson, a brick layer by trade, could not get enough work in 2010 and returned to Sydney.
The Tweed Shire has the highest seniors percentage of population in New South Wales and tradesman realise they cannot charge too much for their work as the money is simply not available.
When the GFC hit the Tweed region, it affected many small business houses and the Tweed Heads Chamber of Commerce heard first person of this time and time again. Ultimately, business people make business decisions and close their doors. Nonetheless it falls on the wider community to help pick up the pieces. It affects schools, hospitals, Centrelink services, welfare agencies and the like.
Mark Tronson says that the Scriptures place a great deal of emphasis on justice, a theme that many Christians hold dear and exercise their right of speech. It is to this area that upright people call upon the government of the day along with big business to help create a society in which every person might live with dignity.
