Aussie-born pop veteran Paul Colman and 17-year-old singer/songwriter Bethany Dillon received last year’s top honors from Australia’s national Christian music chart, The Rock Across Australia, who released their 2005 wrap up report yesterday.

Colman’s “Gloria (All God’s Children),” the first single from the artist’s critically acclaimed release Let It God, was named Song of Year, spending 21 weeks on the chart with 12 at number one. Colman, who won the TRAA Artist of the Year award in 2000 and 2001 for his work with the Paul Colman Trio, co-wrote “Gloria” with newsboys frontman Peter Furler, Hillsong Church worship pastor Reuben Morgan, and Nashville singer/songwriter Jason Ingram.

Dillon, who won 2004’s Song of the Year for “Beautiful,” was named 2005’s Artist of Year. Three of Dillon's songs, “All I Need,” “All That I Can Do,” and her cover of Amy Grant’s “Lead Me On,” grabbed spots in the year end report’s Top 25, charting at No. 2, No. 10, and No. 25, respectively.

Other artists receiving high airplay on Australian Christian radio in 2005 were newsboys, Superchic[k], Nathan Tasker, Reuben Morgan, Jars of Clay, TobyMac, ZOEgirl, and Sony/BMG recording artist Brooke Fraser, who’s song “Better” spent 26 weeks on the chart, the longest time of any artist in 2005.

For a look at TRAA’s complete year end report, click on www.therockacrossaustralia.com/annual/051231Top100.pdf.