Another wonderful response to the young writers annual conference - Saturday 13 Sept. Gold Coast (Banora Point Baptist facilities). 36 came from Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and New Zealand - Christchurch, Cambridge, Rotorua and Auckland.

The conference program saw Josh Hinds launch the Christian Author Registry Depository (C.A.R.D.), Laura Veolos (Melbourne) and Jeremy Suisted (Cambridge) present the Aust / NZ Young Writer Leadership Group direction, followed by Natalie Chu of Christian Today who revealed their demography readership 18-30. Laura then spoke on the coordinator's role, and Jared Diprose his art (Auckland), Sophia Sinclair then led a workshop on Finding Your Voice and into small groups, followed by Jeremy Dover on the New Reformation and finally Gavin Lawrie a reflection.

2014 Awards:
Aust 'Basil Sellers' - Danielle Stott
NZ 'Basil Sellers' - Casey Murray
NZ Theological - Jeremy Suisted
Aust Consistency - Sarah Young
NZ Consistency - Sophia Sinclair
Aust Most Improved - Alex Gillespie
NZ Most Improved - Matt Browning
Sports: Brad Mills,
            Annemarie de Villiers,
            Wesley Tronson


           

New Zealand Young Writer Conference 5 April in Wellington saw young people come together from Auckland, Cambridge, Rotorua, Nelson, Blenheim, Christchurch and Wellington. Liz Hay NZ Panellist who sent Reflections said of it:
"Getting you all together is crucial – assisting with air fares is an investment in each and their future, and says to you that they and what you are doing, really matters.  The networking is invaluable for everyone involved. Having the young writers do most of the work at the conference – chairing, taking sessions, and contributing was very significant. The establishment of a NZ leadership group and meeting over dinner beforehand was a strategic move too. To plan and implement ways of keeping the group going when Mark is not in a position to head it up is also really important. I appreciated how up-front Mark was about that. Sophia Sinclair's input was invaluable, and I’m glad to see that she is going to do the same thing at the Oz conference. I appreciated Sam Burrows too; he brings a different approach, but I was agreeably surprised by the thoughtfulness of his input. Daniel Jang's story was a moving one – and I am sure inspired others with his humble, whole-hearted and thoughtful commitment to mission. So altogether a great mix of input from the young people. (I am only sorry I did not get to meet the others one-to-one and get to know them a little better.)"


NZ Leadership Group:  Daniel Jang, Jeremy Suisted, Sam Burrows, Casey Murray, Brad Mills, Sophia Sinclair.

Salley and Sam Gillespie married 1 March 2014 in Kiama, NSW. Sam is the eldest son of Ian and Robyn Gillespie of Wollongong, Salley is our 4th. It was a wonderfully Christian service.
Sam and Salley run the Children's Church program at Petersham Baptist Church and attend a weekly bible study. Salley is working having an accountancy degree and Sam is in his Hon. Year composing music at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Syd Uni.