In two days, on Saturday 12 September on the Gold Coast, the young writers of Press Service International in conjunction with Christian Today, meet for their annual conference after some considerable stops and starts.
When Covid 12 struck in March across Australia way back in March, it was thought that the young writer conference would be put on hold with a view to cancel, with the annual awards be restricted to a vimeo video.
This was the consensus of the young writers Brain’s Trust for several months until it became clear that the Qld Government would open their borders on 10 July – which was essentially 3 full months to the 12 Sept conference date.
The State Government then issued a new border pass system functioning for open borders and these are downloaded. Then Victoria came under Covid 19 multiple sickness with massive numbers of people under its medical authority and this in turn saw Qld prohibit any Victorians entering the State. Long long ques of cars at the border. 3 hours not uncommon.
New Zealanders need a NZ-Aust air flight bubble and that has not as yet become the norm, and with international flights cancelled none of the international young writers can attend.
Yes, although the conference is on and passes are in hand it is far from a full conference due to these factors.
All set to go
Each of the plenary sessions will be videoed by Jesse Moore for the Australian Missionary News IPTV to be placed on YouTube.
Each day for the following two weeks - articles of the annual Basil Sellers awardees will be published highlighting the 2020 celebrities.
The Panellists were busy marking the articles with the winners plaques acknowledged as in previous years.
The facility – Living Temple Christian Church (Tugun Baptist) – senior pastor Rev Dave and Dr Mark Tronson have met several times leading up to the conference – the logistics are critical.
Program
The annual program is consistent each years - two morning plenaries, after lunch small groups, then a full session together and the annual awards 4.00pm.
This means young writers can fly in, day conference, fly out same evening. 9.45am start. 5.00pm finish. This is the same every year regardless of which city. Works very well.
The LTCC is situated adjacent to two major fast food outlets and 100 metres down the street to Tugun Shops – coffee, sandwiches, whatever.
We look forward to another great young writer conference.
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. Dr Mark Tronson’s Press Service International in 2019 was awarded the Australasian Religious Press Association’s premier award, The Gutenberg. In September 2020 Summer Moore presented her commission portrait of Dr Mark Tronson holding the Gutenberg plaque. The above photo is the upper part from this portrait.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at: http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html
