ST JOSEPH'S Primary School students took up the challenge in a junior public speaking contest two weeks ago organised by the Beechworth Lions Club.
Twenty-eight students delved into research for a three minute speech prepared by years 3 and 4 while years 5 and 6 presented a four minute one.
Lions' Christine Luckman said year 3 and 4 students with the topic 'volunteering in your community' chose a local organisation, spoke about what the entity did as well as why they would like to be part of it.
"Years 5 and 6 students spoke about the topic 'The Environment' - how affected the planet and native wildlife, and what could be done for improvement," she said.
Ms Luckman said wide, interesting and entertaining speeches were delivered to Lions judges, school principal Carly Avery, school coordinator and judge Mark Butters, teachers, fellow students and parents.
With the program's aim for primary school students to develop public speaking skills, Ms Luckman said it gave them the chance to listen to other points of view too.
"But above all is that students have fun in participating," she said.
Olivia Hetherington with runner-up, Olivia Cavallin scored 'most outstanding speaker' from Years 3 and 4, while Eddie Prebble topped the 'most outstanding speaker' with runner-up Olivia Lewis from ears 5 and 6.
With winners along with runners-up heading to the next competition level, Ms Luckman said years 5 and 6 students will have an added presentation with an impromptu speech.
Four levels – school, club, regional and district – give students the chance to compete at each one continuing to the next based on success.
Certificates were presented to all participants with framed ones given to the two 'most outstanding' speakers as well as runner-up students.
"The runner-up certificate presented acknowledged how close the competition was and where the student will compete if the winning speaker was unable to participate," Ms Luckman said.
The Lions program successfully run for more than a decade for years 3 to 6 primary school students is held from May to August each year by local clubs within the Lions local district as well as within other Lions districts across Australia.
Ms Luckman said Beechworth Lions were thrilled to offer the competition for the first time this year.