E-BLAST - 31 AUGUST 2014

Delma (centre in purple) was sad to be at the final Tuesday Craft Group at Tugun Baptist last week. This is part of an overall revamp of the ministry as two churches have combined, one with significant numbers of young families without a building, and Tugun with a few oldies and a building. The craft group may restart in another format in several months time after the new ministry program gets established.

ALEX GILLESPIE - YOUNG WRITER CONF

Alex Gillespie a young writer who is in his first year at Uni in Sydney comes from Wollongong and will be at the PSI young writer conference on 13 Sept on the Gold Coast. Numbers of the Panellists have commented on Alex's youth and insights through his articles. Alex and three other male young writers billeted by Jill Thompson and a early morning beach walk is on the agenda.     

TASH McGILL - YOUNG WRITERS CONF

Tash McGill is from Auckland NZ and a PSI young writers who exercises the role of the prophetess in many of her articles. Forthright, positive, powerful and responsive, Tash is a necessary component to any program where young people are invited to present their "voice" onto the international stage. Tash will be at the PSI young writer conference flying across the Tasman.  

JEREMY DOVER - SPORT

Jeremy Dover is one of the founding group in the young writer program and kind-of encourages and supports the other Sport young writers as he is a pastor and a sports scientist. Discussing the 2014 annual conference awards, Jeremy will present the "younger" Sport young writers their awards. Jeremy also writes a monthly 'Comment' column in the PSI young writer program with Christian Today. 

ANNEMARIE DE VILLIERS - SPORT

Annemarie de Villiers is another of the sport young writers, born in South Africa, when 3 the family relocated to New Zealand and for university moved to Melbourne. Annemarie is studying subjects related to physical movement and its science. Annemarie won the 2013 Sport Young Writer of the Year award and will be at the annual awards conference (Sept 13) on the Gold Coast. 

WESLEY TRONSON - SPORT

Wesley Tronson is another of the sport young writers and is also a foundation member of the young writer program with his EPL articles (English Premier League). Wesley spent 7 years in Manchester UK playing soccer and in banking returning in late 2010. In 2006 he was in the only English team that won any international tournament - Manchester Juniors, in Prague. He will be at the 13 Sept young writers conference. 

E-BLAST - 24 AUGUST 2014

Natalie Chu is a celebrated, highly educated and very talented / gifted young woman. Natalie is one of the two editors at Christian Today Australia having done her Christian Journalism Internship with Christian Post in the USA. Natalie in addition to other things, looks after the young writer columns and uploads them late at night for Mark's early 5.30am rise to send out the daily PSI. Natalie will be at the young writers conference and fielding questions in a special session on Christian Today issues. If you really want to know, Natalie is one of 5 children and is in the middle ... which accounts for her diplomacy skills.   

TISHA WILLIAMS - YOUNG WRITERS CONF.

Tisha Williams is a brilliant indigenous young writer attending the young writers conference. Tisha and Eddie have one under age son of their own and they foster six young indigenous children (relatives). And Tisha is having a little celebration, it might not mean much to any of us, but the conference on Saturday 13 Sept. is "child free" until 7.15pm when the families arrive for the awards. This is Tisha's one day in the year without the ankle biters. 

SARAH YOUNG - YES A 'YOUNG' WRITER

Sarah Young is one of the Melbourne based young writers attending the young writer conference on the Gold Coast Saturday 13 September. Sarah is doing her Masters in Clinical Psychology and husband James (Jimmy) is in Anglican youth ministry. One of the joys of the Laguna Quays Respite ministry is to look after young couples in ministry and we were delighted as they honeymooned at the cottage.   

TIM WILSON - SPORT PANELLIST

Tim Wilson from Canada is one of the Sport Panellists and we're in the midst of them telling their own stories, one each day, in my Christian Today column. Tim was one of the young writers, then when he and his wife Genevieve and family moved to Canada, he became a panellist. I am simply highlighting Tim as they were with YWAM for eight years, he helped me with the AIS chaplaincy in Brisbane and now, he's the rub - he's a hockey player !

MH17 SERVICE - AIS

Rev Peter Nelson AIS Chaplain and a Sport Panellist for the young writers held a memorial service at the AIS for the victims and families of those lost on MH17 over the Ukraine. Two dutch young women attended whose friend was on the flight and a dutch coach coming to the AIS for a short term coaching stint was also on the flight. It was a very moving service.

MARINA HUMOUR

Basil Sellers on his recent visit to Laguna Quays - I gave much mirth over mammoth amount of monies spent on the huge cost of upkeep of super yachts and old heavy tugs so Basil wanted a photograph -  and it certainly tells a story ! 

E-BLAST - 17 AUGUST 2014

Mr Basil Sellers AM with the 2013 Midge Point Art Prize winner Jill Leipertz and the 2014 winner Gina Passfield on 12 Aug. Basil Sellers flew from Sydney - John Lyons a local property developer collected us at Proserpine airport 11.00am - we toured Laguna Quays Resort, visited the respite cottage then to The Point Tavern for the luncheon with the 8 art prize finalists. We caught the 3.55pm flight. A very fulfilling day.   

BASIL SELLERS - ART PRIZE 8 FINALISTS

Basil Sellers with the Midge Point Art Prize 8 Finalists after the luncheon at The Point Tavern and with co-sponsor John Lyons. The table setting had Basil Sellers at the head of the table and two of the finalists - at a time - enjoyed 15 min with Basil Sellers. They each had many questions on art and he spoke of his personal art collections.

BASIL SELLERS - RESPITE HELPERS

Basil Sellers had a 50 min session with this group of local respite helpers. Our coordinators Sean and Sue Spencer had to work that day and so Basil was debriefed by these folk, each has done bits and pieces to assist the respite project. Basil noted that its success is also due to local input and thanked everyone very much. Basil is truly pleased with the respite ministry. 

BASIL SELLERS AT RESPITE COTTAGE

Basil Sellers a cuppa in hand, the on-shore breeze blowing through his hair and a view of Repulse Bay from the entertainment area, it was no easy task to keep to schedule. A lovely sunny winter's day. Basil was singularly impressed with the cottage and the setting, especially this outdoors area in which he funded.  

BASIL SELLERS - LAGUNA QUAYS RESORT

Basil Sellers enjoyed the tour of the Laguna Quays Resort with narration by John Lyons who collected us in the morning from the airport and dropped us back late in the day. Basil is here viewing the resort marina. 

BASIL SELLERS ANd MARK T

Basil Sellers and Mark T have had a friendship that extends back to the 1988 Centennial Cricket Dinner in Sydney where Basil was the host of the table Mark was assigned as the Australian Cricket Team Chaplain. Basil's late dad was a railway engineer, Mark a former driver (author of 16 railway books). Mark has said the grace at quite a number of the Sellers family events.  

E-BLAST - 10 AUGUST 2014

Ken and Carmel Whitby in Mackay hosted us for morning tea and lunch on Thursday on our way back to Tweed Heads. Long time friends of 30 years they have hosted us and athletes in our Country Town Tours to the Mackay region since I initiated the sports ministry early 80s. Their children are the same age as ours. Ken, now retired, is the Treasurer of the School Chaplaincy Committee (25 school chaplains) and Carmel still teaches school scripture (for as long as memory serves).   

ANZAC STREET NAMES IN RED

Mackay Shire Council have repainted WWI diggers street names in RED in commemoration of 100 years WWI and ANZAC 100 years in April 2015. Jasmine Wood who looks after our car on her 35 acre property dropped us off at Ken and Carmel Whitby's in Mackay and then took back the car to Bloomsbury. Jasmine collects us again in October from Mackay - there is now a direct Gold Coast - Mackay flight.  

WILL PEARCE

Will and Margaret Pearce live adjacent to the Laguna Quays Respite cottage (see photo) - Margaret was one of the Midge Point Art Prize finalists. Will is seen here fixing a fence. They are mainstays in their Calen church and establishing a home church in Midge Point. 

MAY AND MARY

We caught up with friends from Melbourne at Laguna Quays Respite who were visiting. May Khor and Mary Vanhoorn. May's husband David is one of our Sport Panellists and their 4 children are of similar age to ours. David and Mary have also visited us in Tweed Heads.  

GINA PASSFIELD AND DELMA

Delma and Gina Passfield (Midge Point Art Prize winner) in their Fresco on their cane farm when we visited Saturday morning tea. This is the family from Ian's side and Gina too was from a cane farming family. Their children are only a touch younger than ours. The fresco overlooks the O'Connell River. Wonderful morning and farm baked scones.   

SEAN AND SUE SPENCER

Sean and Sue Spencer our Laguna Quays Respite coordinators dinner with us and May Khor and Mary Vanhoorn at The Point Tavern. The visiting missionaries ring Sean and Sue should there be a special need. Hopefully they will get time off work on Tuesday to meet Basil Sellers on his day visit.