This year we have learnt the art of adapting. Our Debating and Public Speaking Program has transitioned online through Microsoft Teams. To date, our 60 Senior Debaters have taken part in six online debates at a variety of timeslots after school hours, and lost none of their enthusiasm, sharpness of argument, or desire to compete and win their debates. Round 2 debates are also scheduled in May.

Our Senior debaters have prepared a range of topics from the increase in streaming platforms, and banning climate change denial, to children being legally required to look after their ageing parents rather than placing them in aged care facilities. Each debate has been fiercely contested, with particularly strong performances by students who took part in the Debaters’ Association of Victoria (DAV) Summer Camp this year, and students who have been working hard on their rebuttal skills. Congratulations go to the following students who were awarded Best Speaker: Jennifer Madgwick (Year 12), Alexandra Shergold (Year 12), Sophie Williams (Year 11), Madeline Powell (Year 10), Emilia Searby (Year 10) and Zara Peele (Year 9).

There has also been a hive of activity in Public Speaking with a mixture of internal and external competitions all taking place online. Students are currently training for the DAV Junior, Intermediate and Senior Public Speaking Competitions. Twenty-two students from Years 7 to 12 are currently drafting and refining their speeches to be uploaded by video to the the DAV for judging, with a further 19 students set to compete in online competitions in Term 3. In addition, our Mooting students are finalising their submission briefs as representatives of either the Appellant or Respondent team in their upcoming Moot on Tuesday 19 May. The VCAA: Plain English Speaking Award, which will take place through a live video conference, has seen such a demand in places that it has created additional dates for its regional finals.

An additional range of internal Public Speaking competitions will also take place internally via live video conference including the Legacy Junior Public Speaking Award, the Rotary: Ainger Public Speaking Award and the Rostrum: Voice of Youth Competition. We know that our students value the opportunity of expressing their views and creativity through public speaking and we wish them success in their endeavours.

The many hours of work devoted to all of these competitions by our staff must also be acknowledged. Mr Paul Gilby, Ms Gillian Hosking, Ms Linda Morgan, Mr John Novak, Ms Merran O’Connor, Mr Darren Plunkett, Miss Rebecca Reggars, and Mrs Kim Waters are responsible for guiding the content of students’ speeches, coaching them online, and ensuring that they are well prepared for their competitions, and I thank them sincerely for their support, time and effort. Our Senior students have also contributed to our program; our Year 10 students by Coaching in the Junior School Debating program, and our Year 11 – 12 students by mentoring our Year 7 – 8 students in Public Speaking. 

We have also been lucky this year in welcoming Ms Liz Coolican Dewhurst as a guest adjudicator to the Senior Debating program. A former debater herself, Ms Coolican Dewhurst has provided valuable feedback to our Senior Debaters and I welcome her contribution to our program.