Two Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay students will be competing in the finals of the Wynspeak public speaking competition on Friday, June 2.
Mount St Joseph Girls’ College’s Natasha Stanley and Footscray High School’s Leila Todd have advanced onto the finals, which will be held at Thomas Carr College in Tarneit.
Junior and senior students from Altona College, Bayside P-12 College, Emmanuel College, Footscray High School, Mount St Joseph Girls’ College and Williamstown High School competed in the Hobsons Bay heat on Thursday, May 4, at the Altona Theatre.
The Hobsons Bay heat involved competitors presenting five-minute prepared speeches on a variety of topics followed by two-minute unprepared presentations.
The topics discussed included, learning in lockdown, misinformation and the media, effect of war on children, artificial intelligence, formula one racing, Australia Day and advocating for peace rather than war.
The Wynspeak public speaking competition is an annual event, testing the skills of secondary school students in Melbourne’s west.
It involves eight heats and a final, with approximately 100 students from 40 secondary schools in the western suburbs of Melbourne competing.
Objectives of the competition are to provide a vehicle for young people to grow their self-confidence, build their creativity, critical thinking, and leadership skills via public speaking opportunities, as well as improve poise and professionalism.
It also succeeds in assisting students in developing and growing both personally and professionally by developing traits which are invaluable in everyday life.
The event is hosted by the Altona City Rotary Club and supported by a grant from the state government’s West Gate Neighbourhood Fund.
Jennifer Pittorino
