E-BLAST - 4 MAY 2014

Mark and Delma after a heavy 10 weeks of ministry are having a little time at Laguna Quays Respite having arrived Thursday. The question posed is what can one do on Midge Point Beach?
Thursday this week 8 May is the luncheon at The Point Tavern.

BRIDE AND GROOM - THE CRICKET TRAGIC

Emilia is Mark's niece (sister Suesette's daughter) married Davinder Lachi (pronounced Lucky) last weekend in Mt Beauty Victoria. Davinder is a cricket tragic and arranged for Mark the cricket chaplain to spend a little time with him and his cricket tragic Indian mates.

FATHER OF THE BRIDE

Father of the Bride Dr Lanning Sowden who is very seriously ill was wheeled by his carer Colin along side wife Susette (Mark's sister) and daughter the bride, Emilia - Mt Beauty last weekend.

A HAT ANYONE?

A hat anyone?

Mt Beauty markets last weekend !

IS THIS TRUE?

 Is this true?

Mt Beauty markets last weekend.

E-BLAST - 27 APRIL 2014

Mt Beauty Victoria: Mark and Delma spent the weekend in Mt Beauty for both a family wedding (niece Emilia to Davinder) and with such a large contingent of Indian cricket tragics, previously planned time was set aside for Mark's Cricket Ministry. Mark had bought with him numerous cricket ministry items for distribution. And the guests thought the bride and the mother of the bride (Mark's sister Suesette) was the star of the show, alas these Indian cricket fanatics had their day too!
Autumn in Mt Beauty is a picture. There was a music festival on in town along with amazing markets and even more astonishing stalls. Mt Beauty is an hour's drive from Wodonga on the way to Falls Creek (snow fields).    

ANZAC

Mark's late father's Call-Up for his medical May 1942 after Darwin was bombed. Seymour Tronson was a dairyman at Crediton Eungella on the great dividing range west of Mackay and the farmers were called up. US Air Force was based at Mackay aerodrome with an officer calling aside those farmers with milking cows - their morning milk now belonged to Uncle Sam, their afternoon milk to Mackay. Huge military trucks drove up the range each morning collecting the USAF designed 40 gallon milk tins. The normal 20 gallon milk tins were used for the Mackay afternoon milk. Seymour recalled many a time to us kids how these huge Negro US servicemen would lift those 40 gallon milk tins as if they were match sticks!

HARRY HENKEL 'BOY PARACHUTIST'

Harry Henkel with Myrna his wife of 30 years at the Banora Point Baptist Church this week. Mark wrote Harry Henkel's story as an e-book in 2008 with his WWII experiences as a Whermacht Boy Parachutist 1943-45 when 16 years of age. Harry Henkel served in North Africa, Catalina Siciliy, Monte Casino Italy and finally on the Russian Front. He was seriously wounded on two separate occasions.

http://www.bushorchestra.com/HarryHenkel.htm

YOUNG WRITERS

Sam Gillespie (with Salley his new bride) and Wesley are young writers. Sam writes a monthly Comment article and Wesley the EPL Sport article (English Premier League). This photograph was taken at the morning tea Easter Sunday after Mark preached at Pioneer Country Church of Grace.
Sam is a classical music composer with numbers of scores under his belt. On Friday 6 June Sam has two of his scores before performed at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music concert 'Abalze'. 

FAIR TRADE

Fair Trade - the Fair Trade coffee and Easter egg which was Salley and Sam's offering to Mark for Easter.  Fair Trade is where product is sourced without child labour or slave labour and the funding reaches those at the coal face (as it were). Fair Trade items therefore are a lot more costly.                                       

E-BLAST - 20 APRIL 2014

NZ Panellists Christina Tyson (left) and Liz Hay (right) at the NZ young writers conference.
Liz Hay was requested by Mark to send a reflection on the young writers conference which arrived last week and has been distributed to fellow Panellists, the young writers and now our Well-Being Australia support network. Liz Hay has a CV as long as your arm in professional writing and the life long spouse of an NZ Anglican Minister.
Christina Tyson is the editor of NZ War Cry (Salvation Army) and gave a paper at the NZ young writer conference (5 April). 

DELMA'S BIRTHDAY DINNER

Delma 61 - photo with Mark's clapped out 4 year old iphone - out for dinner. Delma thoroughly enjoys her craft, card making and scrap-booking. Sue Spencer coordinator Laguna Quays Respite orders some craft items for Delma and found the order last week after a diligent search and those items should be there when we're up in May for a 2 week rest visit. Anyone updated their iphone and able to give Mark their old one.  

MISSION FAMILY ON RESPITE

Mission family all this week to 30 April at Laguna Quays Respite cottage - this is such a joy to our hearts. Viv Grice NSW Baptist Ministries Head sent Mark an Email: "May you know grace and strength as you continue your ministry of respite to so many." Booked with mission people coming and going through to end of Oct. Thankyou for your love gifts to keep this respite ministry running.

Photo - the new stone steps to the cottage veranda

FOOTPLATE PADRE

Mark was sent this by young writer Bridget Brenton and it gave him opportunity in his weekly memo to the young writers to offer some instruction on hyperbole when it comes to railway speak - "I love diesels" (hyperbole), "I love the driver of that 42 Class as it's just a joy to drive"  -  never met the driver but know the pleasure of driving a 42 Class (hyperbole). Mark thoroughly enjoys his Footplate Padre ministry being a former train driver.

E-BLAST - 13 JUNE 2014

Jared Diprose NZ young writer has a carving creating business (anything really) and he created (contracted) a ring box for Delma for her birthday (61) - Friday 11 April. Jared is seen here presenting the ring box to Delma at the NZ young writers conf Wellington last weekend (5 April).
Most of these photos are from John Grocott our young writer award's statistician who came across to the NZ conf. NZ young writers converged for the conf from: Auckland, Rotorua, Cambridge, Blenheim, Nelson, Christchurch and Wellington. Fantastic! The responses have been phenomenal. 

SMALL GROUP WORKSHOP

NZ young writers conf. Wellington last weekend (5 April) the plenary workshop session was led by Sophia Sinclair who had small groups get together on 4 occasions.
This group: Casey Murray, Daniel Jang, Tony Dunkerley (taking notes) and Tash McGill. Casey and Tash (Auckland), Daniel (Wellington) and Tony was a speaker reflecting on the conf.

MATT BROWNING AND DANIEL JANG

Matt Browning and Daniel Jang chatting at the NZ young writers conf in Wellington last weekend (5 April). Matt has been in Rotorua for 12 months, is from Auckland; while Daniel was born in Korea, came to New Zealand as a youngster. Daniel 1st place  2013 NZ Basil Sellers Young Writers. 

PETER ROPE AND GEMMA TAYLOR

Peter Rope and Gemma Taylor both from Auckland chatting at the NZ young writers conf in Wellington last weekend (5 April). Peter works in a major book shop in the city and Gemma is a school teacher and business woman.

MATT, HELEN, MERCY

Matt Browning, Helen McIntosh and Mercy Cornish chatting at the NZ young writer conf in Wellington last weekend (5 April). Matt is from Rotorua, Helen from Wellington and Mercy from Nelson (South Island).

HELEN McINTOSH AND SOPHIA SINCLAIR

Helen McIntosh and Sophia Sinclair enjoying a chat during the NZ young writers conf. Wellington last weekend (5 April). Helen lives in Wellington but from Blenheim (South Island) while Sophia lives in Christchurch, Editor of NZ CMS magazine and a new mum. Sophia gave the major plenary at the conf.

DEEP CONVERSATION

Tony Dunkerley and Mark in deep conversation at the NZ young writers conf in Wellington last weekend (5 April). A huge hit with the young writers as he was in Melbourne last Sept., Tony's specialty is 'mentoring' having coached National and Victorian junior aged soccer teams and his role as Commissioner for Junior Football.

ART PRESENTATION

Notice the interest by both young writer Casey Murray and Panellist Christina Tyson - Mark's 'table top' art works proved to be a hit with last year's NZ young writer winners when re-presented before their peers in Wellington at the NZ young writer conference last weekend (5 April).

LUNCH CONVERSATIONS - 1-4 PHOTOS

Mercy Cornish in deep conversation - Matt Browning - at the very end Sophia Sinclair, Tash McGill then Gemma Taylor.


1st of 4 photos in this short series of the lunch at the NZ Young Writers conference in Wellington last weekend (5 April).

LUNCH CONVERSATIONS

Gemma Taylor and Tash McGill (right)  -  see next photo for the others at the end.


2nd photo in this short series of the lunch at the NZ Young Writers conference in Wellington last weekend (5 April).

LUNCH CONVERSATIONS

Peter Rope, Daniel Jang, Christina Tyson, Lis Hay, Sam Burrows

3rd photo in this short series of the lunch at the NZ Young Writers conference in Wellington last weekend (5 April).

LUNCH CONVERSATIONS

Casey Murray, Brad Mills, Helen McIntosh, Matt Browning, Mercy Cornish, Delma.

4th photo in this short series of the lunch at the NZ Young Writers conference in Wellington last weekend (5 April).

E-BLAST - 6 APRIL 2014

NZ Young Writers Leadership Group on Friday night 4 April over dinner led off the NZ Young Writers Conference in Wellington. These were the 2013 Young Writers Award winners plus two coopted. Daniel Jang (Wellington), Jeremy Suisted (Cambridge), Sam Burrows, Casey Murray, Brad Mills (Auckland) and Sophia Sinclair (Christchurch) - this group came up with some significant ideas which the Saturday meeting developed further with the able assistance of Tash McGill.

PLENARY BY SOPHIA SINCLAIR

Sophia Sinclair, young writer, new mum and editor of NZ CMS Magazine ran the Saturday afternoon plenary. Sophia's aim was for the young writers to explore themselves what they're about and this meant breaking into small groups on 4 occasions. This was such a powerful presentation Sophia has been asked to duplicate it at the 2014 Young Writer Awards Conference on the Gold Coast in September.

PETER, GEMMA, JARED

NZ Young writer's conference in Wellington - Three Auckland young writers - Peter Rope, Gemma Taylor and Jared Diprose. Peter works at Whitcoulls Booksellers who writes on philosophy, Gemma Taylor is both a business woman and school teacher, and Jared has recently initiated his own small business in creative carving, feature walls, anything really.

LUNCH - NZ YOUNG WRITERS CONFERENCE

Lunch: NZ Young Writer's Conference - Helen McIntosh (Wellington), Matt Browning (Auckland), Mercy Cornish (Nelson) and Delma. The conference commenced Friday night with a Leadership Dinner, followed by a breakfast Saturday, then the conference commenced at 10.15am all day.

DANIEL JANG

Re-presented 2013 NZ young writer awards - Daniel Jang (Wellington) Fist place - presented by NZ Panellist Christina Tyson NZ War Cry Editor. Mark's art work titled Trinity from his top rating article on this theme.   

SAM BURROWS

Re-presented 2013 NZ young writer awards - Sam Burrows (Auckland) Theological Development Award  - presented by NZ Panellist Christina Tyson NZ War Cry Editor. Mark's art work titled Challenge in Faith and his top read article last year on the cultural setting within NZ. Sam is currently reflecting on 2015.

Sam was the final speaker of the conference again reflecting on New Zealand culture and how the young writers in their monthly articles reflect on it.     

CASEY MURRAY

Re-presented 2013 NZ young writer awards - Casey Murray (Auckland) Equal 2nd - presented by NZ Panellist Christina Tyson NZ War Cry Editor. Mark's art work titled The Plan from Casey's 2013 article 'So What's The Plan?' which was recently republished in Encounter Magazine.  

Casey served as MC for this 2014 NZ Young Writer Conference in Wellington.   

SOPHIA SINCLAIR

Re-presented 2013 NZ young writer awards - Sophia Sinclair (Christchurch) Equal 2nd - presented by NZ Panellist Christina Tyson NZ War Cry Editor. Mark's art work titled Boy Child as recently Sophia and Andrew had their first, Guy Douglas. Her top rating article last year 'What does Google say about you?' as the art work also illustrates the nature of this phenomena.   

BRAD MILLS

Mark listening to Brad Mills NZ young writer from Auckland who works in Christian media with Rhema. Brad was a huge help by forwarding on the raised monies for air-fare scholarships to ensure the young writers could travel into Wellington from Auckland, Cambridge, Nelson and Christchurch. 

TONY DUNKERELY AND DANIEL JANG

Tony Dunkerley one of the NZ conference speakers presented 'football fan' (soccer) Daniel Jang a Socceroos scarf for his future adventure to soccer mad countries around the world. Tony and Sam Burrows summed up the conference with reflections as they did in Melbourne last September.