E-BLAST - THURS 1 MARCH 2018

Dr Basil Sellers AM  -  awarded Honourary Doctorate by Bond University for his many years of Service to the University
1984 Mark was appointed Chaplain to the Australian Cricket Team and at the 1988 Cricket Bi-Centennial Dinner in Sydney the designated host to his table was Mr Basil Sellers a well known philanthropist. Mark has been the cricket chaplain for four years and Basil, an active Christian, sought to get to know Mark and initiated this with a $1000 gifting.
Mark was at that time initiating Timeout in Moruya as an AIS athlete respite facility and Basil Sellers sent a significant seed gifting for "Basil Sellers House" which opened in 1992.
A similar project for Moruya was an art centre and with another significant seed gifting the "Basil Sellers Art Centre" was opened in 2003 and a year later the "$10,000 Moruya Basil Sellers Art Prize" - (now $15,000) which was followed by the "$100,000 Sport-Art Basil Sellers Art Prize" in conjunction with Melbourne University.
This was followed by support for the Basil Sellers Laguna Quays Respite for missionaries, then a second missionary respite house at Aldinga Beach (Adelaide) in conjunction with MissionLink and then the Basil Sellers Midge Point Art Prize.
With all of this Dr Basil Sellers has wonderfully supported the Basil Sellers Young Writer Ministry since 2013 with annual awards and air fare scholarships to the young writers annual conference. Plus support for Mark and Delma. This is a hallmark of the Lord's partnership in ministry - Basil often says, with the Lord's help, we have done a lot together.
Mark and Delma have officiated at Basil Sellers' high table birthday functions, saying the Grace, and likewise at his son's wedding Darrell and Ruth, and over all these years many phone calls and Mark seeking Basil Sellers's wisdom. Basil Sellers honoured us by attending as a family member our 40th anniversary in February last year in Sydney and has significantly helped with our children's tertiary education expenses. Basil referred to such help as a contribution to the Nation!