SENIOR SCHOOL
Public Speaking
Guildford Grammar School’s values
are alive and well in our public speaking
team. 2018 was another year in which our
students represented the School with both
skill and passion. What has been even more
impressive is the respect and genuine interest
in important social issues that these students
have demonstrated when participating
across Perth communities. Students attended
a variety of competitions over the year.
Some, such as the UN Evatt competition,
are through their HASS subjects, as well as
extra-curricular clubs and groups.
Zachary Matthews (11Fr) has continued
to lead the way with his involvement in
the UN Evatt Competition. Zachary, in
conjunction with Emerson Varris (11He),
Marcus Outram (11Fr) and Abigail
Burbridge (11Be) represented our School
in a mock sitting of the United Nations
Security Council. This is a very challenging
competition in which students present
solutions to real world international
problems. Our students represented
their nation’s interests very well, having
much influence on the chamber and on
the resolution itself, with both teams
proposing some very effective, instrumental
amendments. The competition was stiff
this year and unfortunately this meant
neither Guildford delegation was able
to make it through to nationals. Though
neither delegation continued, the efforts
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made were highly commendable, as
getting through to the States meant we
were in the top 15 out of 138 delegations.
Congratulations to the teams. At the time
of writing, other students such as Lachlan
Bella (11Ha), Stuart Boyd (9Wb) and
William Hutson (9Sc) are also preparing for
the junior UN Evatt competition.
The City of Swan Youth Out Loud
competition was again a focus and it was
pleasing to see our entrants come from
all year levels across the School. This is a
particularly challenging competition as it
requires the speakers to research social
issues and apply their research to specific
problems in the City of Swan by providing
solutions.
To prepare, we again had volunteers from
Toastmasters run an informal training
workshop. With the topic of ‘Home’,
students wrote six-minute speeches advising
the City of their suggestions.
Jonathan Rose (8Sc) and Joshua Bozich
(7SG) were first and third in the Junior
section. Intermediates, Stuart Boyd (9Wb),
William Hutson (9Sc) and Orlando De
Santis (9Fr) showed a range of skills, with
Orlando placed third and William awarded
an encouragement prize of $50 from the
Young Australian League. Seniors presented
with amazing sincerity and passion, with
Mason Shephard (11He), Luke Osborne
(11Be), Marcus Outram (11Ha) and
Emerson Varris (11He) against each other
for finals. Eventual places were taken by
Emerson 1st, Luke 2nd and Marcus 3rd.
Marcus also received the $50 sponsor’s
choice award. Guildford Grammar School
again brought home the prestigious Charlie
Gregorini Shield with local Councillor
Ms Scanlan and Swan youth worker Ms
McCabe attending our assembly to present
this to Emerson Varris (11He) for best
speaker of the competition. It might be of
interest to future entrants that all winners
receive prizes from $50 to $200 along with
their trophies!
These students were all given a huge vote
of thanks by City of Swan Councillors for
addressing important social inequality
issues on the topic, such as homelessness,
community health and fitness, domestic
violence and racism in a genuine and caring
manner. Their suggestions to the City were
all duly noted by the judging Councillors
for future discussions at Council. The City
of Swan library staff asked Emerson if they
could meet with him to discuss and go
through his references for inclusion in their
future action plans!
Future leaders indeed!
Colleen Reed
Teacher-in-charge, Public Speaking