E-BLAST - SUN 30 AUGUST

Whales 'galore' last Tuesday at Coolangatta's Snapper Rocks whey were came in shore 120 metres out. We were showing friends from Tasmania around - Peter and Kathryn Yaxley who are Panellists in the young writer program. There were large numbers all along the coast and some further out - they were free flowing coming in and out of the ocean waters. It was thrilling and a beautiful day.   

WHALE SPLASH SNAPPER ROCKS

Whales were in abundance last Tuesday - we were taking young writer program Panellists Peter and Kathryn Yaxley from Tasmania for a sight seeing tour of Tweed Heads and Coolangatta and the whales were splashing, coming out of the water, spurting - it was fabulous. And a beautiful day. Many locals went to look (my electrician said they went down), and tourists were fascinated - and all close in shore.

PETER AND KATHRYN YAXLEY

Peter and Kathryn Yaxley from Tasmania are Panellists for the young writer program. Having enjoyed the whales, my art work to them was titled "Whale of a time". We've been friends for well over 20 years when they attended a sports ministry school in Moruya. They looked after Anthea at Adelaide Oval while I was with the cricket team on one occasion. We visited on a Country Town Tour their links in north west Tasmania - Burnie, Devonport etc. We have linked up many times since. They visited us in Tweed Heads Mon-Wed this past week.   

PANELLIST PETER YAXLEY AND MARK

Peter Yaxley from Tasmania a Panellists for the young writer program and Mark had last Tuesday morning undisturbed. Peter explained their itinerant ministry and how Kathryn has a special gifting to explains Christian matters of the heart 'simply' in a way their listeners understand. They have stopped along the way and on their way back in three weeks they have many appointments in the same places! 

AARON TREVIS - GIDEONS

Aaron Trevis from the Gideons visited me - this was not the fist occasion - a keen surfer he was delighted to take an art work of several surf boards. Aaron is back in SE Qld having spent some years in Canberra at Gideon headquarters and is now in Gideon promotions. The Gideons place bibles in strategic locations and many have been save to Salvation by reading such a providentially placed bible.  

LUGGAGE QUESTIONED

A former young writer (names not permitted) on way to the Middle East to serve the Lord - stop over Bangkok - to El Al (one to one interviews) Israel first stop. He had - a one way ticket, alone. Oops! In his bag were books Islam (and Jesus), Arabic dictionary, etc). Asking for wisdom - explained he was an evangelical Christians taking the Gospel into Muslim countries. He was all cleared and given VIP treatment to board the aircraft.    

E-BLAST - 23 AUGUST 2015

Basil Sellers Young Writer Award - Tronson du Coudray art work - Belinda Croft - 2015 Young Writer Awards 1 Aug, Sydney

ART - CONSISTENCY AWARD

Consistency Award (3 drawn) - Tronson du Coudray art work - Charlotte (Charley) Goiris - 2015 Young Writer Awards 1 Aug, Sydney

ART - CONSISTENCY AWARD

Consistency Award (3 drawn) - Tronson du Coudray art work - Rebecca Moore - 2015 Young Writer Awards 1 Aug, Sydney

ART - CONSISTENCY AWARD

Consistency Award (3 drawn) - Tronson du Coudray art work - Jeremy Dover - 2015 Young Writer Awards, 1 Aug, Sydney

ART - THEOLOGICAL AWARD

Theological Award - Tronson du Coudray art work - Sam Manchester - 2015 Young Writer Awards, 1 Aug, Sydney

ART - PHILOSOPHICAL AWARD

Philosophical Award to Russell Modlin - Tronson du Coudray art work - 2015 Young Writer Awards, 1 Aug, Sydney

E-BLAST - 16 AUGUST 2015

The beautiful bowl Jared Diprose from Auckland's Mosaic Art Warehouse hand crafted as a presentation to Mr Basil Sellers AM for his support of the young writer program. Jared's photo was in last week's E-Blast (scroll down to 9 Aug). Jared spoke at 2014 conf of his dream of an art warehouse and signed the lease the day after his return. One month later he lost his left eye in an industrial accident on site. In March this year he married his sweet heart Sierra. 

RUSSELL MODLIN - PHILOSOPHICAL AWARD

Russell Modlin awarded the Chairman's Philosophical Award at the 2015 young writers conference. Russell chairs the Leadership Group of the young writers who planned the conf. Presenting the award to Russell is the Rev Simon Manchester (right) a dear friend of Mark's over 30 years the Rector of St Thomas North Sydney. Simon and Jenny came to the awards as their son Sam won the 2015 Theological Award.    

SOPHIA SINCLAIR - EDITOR'S AWARD

Sophia Sinclair awarded a special book award - The Editor's Award - for the stirling editorial dedicated work on the young writers articles and moreover her correspondence with each of them in her editing. In addition Sophia writes an editorial note for each week in the Thursday memo to the young writers. Sophia is a great asset to the young writer program.  

AIRA CHILCOTT - PANELLIST REPORT

Aira Chilcott a Panellist for the young writer awards attended the young writer conference and subsequently wrote a report which was published in Christian Today last Thursday (13 Aug). It has been well received along with the suggestions and recommendations, one of which is to invite more Panellists as the young writers enjoyed meeting her viz the Panellists attending previous conf. Aira is a ret high school teacher and has led several student tours to India for MI.     

ZACH RADLOFF - IT AWARD

Zach Radloff presented the 2015 IT Award by Russell Modlin the Chairman of the Leadership Group Young Writers at the annual conf of the young writers in Sydney. Zach is at university on the Gold Coast in the arena of IT and writes a monthly IT article that relates to Church IT issues. Delma reads his articles and finds them both interesting and informative.   

SAM GILLESPIE - CONF DAY DIRECTOR

Sam Gillespie was the young writer conference day director based at Petersham Baptist Church. The logistics was something else not least arranging the food (lunch and dinner) and at the end of the day a team of young writers got behind Sam and cleaned up the hall.There was enough pizza left for the Children's Church to enjoy brunch which Sam and Salley run. Sam has commenced his PhD in classical composing (music).

E-BLAST - 9 AUGUST 2015

Jared Diprose Auckland was presented the NZ Most Improved by Well-Being Australia's Russell Modlin (as in all the photos below). Jared spoke at last year's Tweed Heads conference on his vision for an art warehouse and signing the contract the day after returning. One month later he lost his left eye in an industrial accident at the warehouse and in March this year married his sweet heart Sierra. To thank Mr Basil Sellers AM for the air-fare scholarship help for so many at the conference Jared hand crafted a beautiful bowl for Mr Sellers. We will see this bowl in next Sunday's E-Blast along with other awards still.     

TIM ROBERTSON / CHRIS ARCHIBALD - MI

2015 Australian Most Improved young writer award went to Sydney young people Tim Robertson and Christopher Archibald. Both write challengingly with solid composition. Tim is at UNSW doing engineering and Christopher is a sports fan and often writes about Christian athletes. Delma and I have known the families for 35 years or more. 

CHARIS JACKSON - INTERNATIONAL AWARD

2015 International Young Writer "Outstanding Award" went to USA's Charis Jackson. Charis serves with YWAM and is currently in Brisbane and had never been to Sydney before so had three days exploring he city. In her spare time Charis is a film maker. The International Award runs a little differently in that there are time zones and local issues so they are collated into the first week of each Cycle. We have young writers from England, USA, Canada, Mozambique, China, Middle East and the West Indies. Top Panellist points went to Paul Lewis (West Indies) and Genevieve Wilson (Canada). Charis was 1 point behind. 

DAVID GOODWIN - SPORT AWARD

2015 Sport Writer's Award went to David Goodwin of Melbourne. David is a cricket tragic, plays it, administers it, loves it and writes eloquently about it. We thought we may have had another draw as we did last year with three Sport Award winners (Brad Mills, Annemarie de Villers, Wesley Tronson) but the Panellists points gave David a win in the final two Cycles. David serves in IT for the Salvation Army and was Editor of On Fire magazine before a restructure removed his role. 

MICHAEL DAHLENBURG / LIANA MONAGHAN

New Young Writer Award went to two South Australian's Michael Dahlenburg and Liana Monaghan. Both Michael and Liana commenced writing this year and have shown inspiration, diligence and fortitude in their writings. This award was derived by a Panellist who wanted to acknowledge and bless new young writers. They received a book.

EDITOR'S PIC - CLAIRE DEBROIS

The 2015 Editor's Pic Award went to Claire Debrois of Wellington New Zealand. This award was selected by editor Sophia Sinclair as one of the bright up and coming young writers and I couldn't agree more. Claire brought an ambiance to the conference. Claire is married and works in corporate sector having spent some years with the NZ Bible Society. In her spare time Claire is an NZ Army Officer in the Reserves.    

E-BLAST - 2 AUGUST 2015

2015 Basil Sellers Award - Belinda Croft received the top award yesterday in Sydney (1 Aug) at the annual Young Writers Conference. For the first 25 weeks of the year the Panellists marked each article out of 10 and now Belinda joins the ranks of Danielle Stott (2014) and Alison Barkley (2013) - the first year of the awards. Belinda produces the young writer conf videos along with the Australian Missionary News IPTV interviews and is one of the young writer ministry foundation young writers. It was presented by Russell Modlin of Well-Being Australia.    

NZ BASIL SELLERS AWARD - SOPHIA AND JEREMY

2015 NZ Basil Sellers Award - Jeremy Suisted (Cambridge NZ) and Sophia Sinclair (Christchurch). This represents top marks by the NZ Panellists over the first 25 weeks of 2015. Jeremy is an IT innovation strategist with a Masters degree for which he received a $12,000 grant. Sophia Sinclair is a former NZ National Broadcaster journalist, then editor of NZ CMS before relocating with her husband Andrew to the Sydney Missionary Bible College this year. Presented by Russell Modlin of Well-Being Australia.   

AUST TRONSON CONSISTENVY AWARDS - THREE

2015 Tronson Consistsency Award - 3 drawn - Jeremy Dover (Melbourne), Charley Goiris (Melbourne), Rebecca Moore (Sunshine Coast) presented by Russell Modlin of Well-Being Australia. It was originally for 2nd place but changed last year to honour Delma and Mark Tronson in founding the young writer ministry in 2008. It came after Sport Chaplaincy Australia honouring two Sydney Anglicans for their Awards after Mark and Delma's 18 year founding of the sports ministry. The senior young writers were disgusted.

NZ TRONSON CONSISTENCY AWARD - TWO YW

2015 NZ Tronson Consistency Award - a draw - Brad Mills (Auckland) and Tim Newman (Christchurch). This award was originally for 2nd place and renamed last year recognising Delma and Mark's founding of the young writer ministry with Christian Today in 2008. The awards were presented by Russell Modlin of Well-Being Australia.   

AUST THEOLOGICAL AWARD - SAM MANCHESTER

2015 Aust Theological Award went to Sam Manchester of Sydney, studying at Moore College. Sam received a financial award, a certificate and a Tronson du Coudray art work. This award was presented by Russell Modlin of Well-Being Australia. Sam is one of the foundation young writers.

NZ THEOLOGICAL AWARD - ANDREW SINCLAIR

2015 NZ Theological Award went to Andrew Sinclair from Christchurch. Andrew is currently at the Sydney Missionary Bible College with his wife Sophia (PSI editor) and toddler son Guy. Andrew received a financial award, a certificate and a Tronson du Coudray art work. This award was presented by Russell Modlin of Well-Being Australia.