Young public speakers talk it up

Young people in an annual junior public speaking competition run by Lions Australia showcased their talents on Saturday at the Beechworth Soldier’s Memorial Hall. The successful program for primary school students in year 3 to 6 has been run locally by Beechworth Lions Club for the last three years. For proud Beechworth mother Merran Watt, her daughter Lily Dobson from Beechworth Primary School will progress to the next level after being selected as the most outstanding speaker in the year five and six category. Lily will compete in the Zone- Regional finals to be held next month in Wodonga. Ms Watt said the competition offered a wonderful opportunity to young people. “Skills are developed such as thinking critically about a topic, formulating a logical argument and engaging the audience in a persuasive and effective way,” she said. “These skills are needed in academia life, professional life and also in general as an adult. “There are not many public speaking opportunities like this, and I support and encourage Lily to participate. “I’ve been watching Lily grow in confidence and self-esteem from year three when she started to year six.” Lily was among winning students from school level competitions who competed at the local Lions Club level on Saturday. Local Lions secretary and event MC Iris Mannik OAM said 66 students across St Joseph’s, Beechworth Primary and Montessori schools had taken part in two categories - years 3 and 4, as well as years 5 and 6 at the school level. Eleven students made it through to the Lions Club level on Saturday for the competition. St Joseph’s student Catalina Neumann will join Lily at the Zone and Regional competition as the most outstanding speaker for the year three and four category on Saturday. Montessori student Emersyn Collicoat and St Joseph’s student Adara Keady clinched runners up in year three and four, and five and six categories respectively. Ms Mannik said she loved watching all children participating gain confidence and blossom. “They take public speaking skills into their adult life,” she said. Beechworth Lions club members and former school teachers Christine Luckman and Lyn Hayes judged Saturday’s competition. Ms Luckman said she has been impressed by research undertaken and quality of speeches by all students. “It was interesting to hear their opinions as well,” she said. She said the judging process had specific and detailed criteria given by Lions Australia. The topic for competitors nation-wide in the year 3 and 4 category was ‘Creative Invention’ while the topic was ‘Technology’ for the years 5 and 6 cohort. Year five and six students were given an additional topic with 10 minutes to prepare for a one-minute impromptu speech on ‘my favourite activity or pastime’ with the subject given by the two judges. Participation certificates were presented to all participants. The Zone and Regional finals will be held at 11am on 17 August at the Wodonga Lions Club Den, Victoria Cross Parade in Wodonga.

Young public speakers talk it up

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