Ainger Peck Public Speaking Award

On Tuesday 7 May, Year 12 students, Kavina Kalaichelvam, Emily Sutherland and Flynn O’Brien, competed in the regional heat for the Rotary Ainger Peck Public Speaking Award at Melbourne Girls’ College in Richmond. Twenty-three competitors and 19 schools were represented in the competition, reflecting the popularity of the Award, which launches a busy term in Public Speaking. All three of our students brought a wealth of experience to this competition, having competed in a variety of Public Speaking competitions including Rostrum Voice of Youth and the DAV Intermediate Public Speaking Competitions.

The Ainger Peck competition requires students to present a four minute speech on a topic based on fact, thereby allowing for a great variety of subject matter. Content from competitor speeches ranged from the effects of alcohol, how to vote cards, and the internal bully. Our students used their speeches to develop interesting and sophisticated social views. Kavina articulated the contradictory messages regarding individuality and conformity given to modern day teenagers. Emily encouraged the audience to appreciate the way that our perceptions create a variety of personas to the point where they are all illusory, while Flynn challenged the audience to reflect upon the insidious rise of narcissism in the First World at the cost of our insensitivity to real problems in the Third World. Our students were ably mentored by Mrs Anna McKenzie, whose investment in this competition brings with it a distinct appreciation of the subtleties of the competition and expertise in guiding students’ speeches. We thank Mrs McKenzie for the time and skill dedicated to coaching our students.

While students are encouraged to select and develop content for their speeches which resonates authentically with them, they were also advised by Chief Adjudicator, Stephen Yoland, to balance this with strong presentation skills. Students are encouraged to include light and shade in their delivery, to create word pictures, and to create intimacy with their audience. With oral presentations now being a firm fixture in the study design of many subjects, students are well served by the skills they acquire in the Public Speaking program. However, beyond this they are also encouraged to view these skills as being suited to a variety of professional pathways beyond school.

 

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