The Popularity of Debating

This year a record number of 66 students from Years 9 to 12 have registered to be part of the Senior Debating competition which is already underway.

Round 1 took place on 21 March and three of our teams experienced wins – A Grade, Team 2: Hope Kudelka (Year 12), Kavina Kalaichelvam (Year 12), Flynn O’Brien (Year 12); B Grade, Team 1: Natalie Sinicka (Year 11), Isabella McDonald (Year 11), Isobel Tanner (Year 11); D Grade, Team 1: Madeleine Farrer (Year 9), Eloise Rudge (Year 9), Angela Yu (Year 9).

This year’s Debating topics continue to challenge our students by compelling them to engage with topical issues such as pill testing at music festivals, the banning of horse racing, and whether police should carry tasers rather than guns. Five students were named Best Speaker: Kavina Kalaichelvam, Annelise Cody (Year 12), Isabella McDonald, Eloise Rudge and Ciara Jenkins (Year 9), and we congratulate these girls on their strong start to the season.

Special mention must go to Sophie Turnbull (Year 12), our Co-Captain of Debating and Public Speaking, who was invited to try out for the Victorian State Team for Debating, and made it to Round 2, where only 24 students remained in the selection process. Sophie was named Best Speaker twice in 2018 and continues with Co-Captain, Gabriella Tymms (Year 12), to contribute to and lead our program as A Grade debaters.

St Catherine’s students compete in Round 1 of the Senior Debating competition.

Such is the growing popularity of Debating state-wide that the Debaters’ Association of Victoria has introduced a new Women’s Competition. This inaugural competition took place on Sunday 31 March at Fintona Girls’ School, and seven of our Years 9 and 10 students competed: Fleur Anstee (Year 10), Lucy Campbell (Year 10), Paula Chen (Year 9), Georgina Vote (Year 10), Sophie Williams (Year 10), Jessica Yang (Year 10) and Angela Yu. We congratulate Angela Yu (Year 9) on being awarded Best Speaker for one of the debates amongst a field of female debaters who were predominantly made up of experienced Years 11 and 12 debaters from other schools. This one day event comprises three secret topics, and students are divided into random teams; this allows students to meet and become team members with other talented debaters against whom they might otherwise be opponents. Our students found the day to be a fun way of developing their skills around secret topics which require debaters to prepare their arguments under the pressure of time, to elaborate on key points without relying on extensive notes, and to work efficiently as a team so that all speakers can expand upon their points in a well informed manner. We hope that even more students will take up the opportunity of joining the Women’s Competition next year.

St Catherine’s Years 9 and 10 students at the DAV Women’s Competition.

Finally, we thank Samantha Osborn (Year 12), Charlotte Murdoch (Year 11) and Millicent Cottrell (Year 11) for their eye-catching designs for our 2019 Debating and Public Speaking posters, which have attracted much attention by both staff and students, and continue to promote our program. Students are also reminded that there are currently a wide range of Public Speaking competitions which are available for them to join. Interested students should contact Ms Keratiotis, although many places have already been filled.

Ms Mary-Anne Keratiotis, Coordinator of Debating and Public Speaking