NEWS
PROJECT COORDINATOR , ROTARY CLUB OF BALWYN , MR BRIAN MATHIESON , WITH RONAN AHL - YEAR 11
CHRISTOPHER O ' CONNELL OF YEAR 11 WITH THE CHAIR OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF RICHMOND ' S AINGER PECK AWARD , MR BEN HOSKING (' 57 )
‘ THROW YOUR HAT IN THE RING AND TRY PUBLIC SPEAKING ’
In these articles , two Year 11 Scotch boys – Christopher O ’ Connell and Ronan Ahl – outline what they love about Public Speaking . Christopher describes it as ‘ the ability to speak clearly and concisely … to articulate your ideas with a definable message ’; while to Ronan it is ‘ an art which allows people (…) to turn our voice into something bigger ’. Both boys have excelled in a variety of Public Speaking competitions and as the articles reveal , they enjoy and greatly benefit from the opportunities this activity provides for them . Ronan has a message for all Scotch boys : ‘ I encourage you to throw your hat in the ring and try Public Speaking ’.
LOCAL , NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Public Speaking equips you with lifelong skills – the ability to speak clearly and concisely , to consider what would be most interesting and persuasive to your audience and to articulate your ideas with a definable message .
This year I was fortunate to progress to the finals in several competitions , which was very rewarding . A highlight was the Australian Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championship , where I was placed fifth nationally and qualified for the Australian team in the world championship . Other interesting competitions included the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority ’ s Plain English Speaking Award , for which students use simple language exclusively , and the Ainger Peck Award , which emphasises the presentation of a speech above the content itself .
I am also grateful to have participated in and won the Year 11 House Public Speaking Competition . I have enjoyed being involved in Scotch ’ s Public Speaking program and am grateful for the opportunities it has provided me and so many other students .
The World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championship comprises four categories : Debating , Impromptu Speaking , After Dinner or Persuasive Speaking , and Interpretive Reading .
One hundred and fifty high school students from across the globe represented their nations in this event . I was grateful to be selected as one of 10 Australian team members after my fifth place in the national competition .
We would have travelled to Toronto , Canada , however due to travel restrictions the competition was conducted online .
Nonetheless , it was an incredible experience . I conversed with fellow students from many countries , including Canada , China , India , Greece and the USA . I enjoyed debating , as well as the Impromptu Speaking category , in which contestants presented a five-minute speech with no notes after two minutes of preparation .
I made it to the finals after giving speeches about stoicism , the origin of the potato chip and addressing a fake audience of McDonald ’ s shareholders . I was grateful to be placed second in the After Dinner Speaking category and 18th overall in the world . CHRISTOPHER O ’ CONNELL – YEAR 11
THE BEAUTY AND POWER OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
Public Speaking is an art which allows people – like you and me – to turn our voices into something bigger . It allows us to influence , and be influenced , to inspire , and be inspired and perhaps even to change the world for the better .
This year , I had the privilege of representing my House and Scotch in Public Speaking . In the Littlejohn Chapel , I joined fellow competitors from Year 11 in the Inter-House Public Speaking Competition to explore ‘ the Power of Hope ’ and its impact on our world . Such a competition not only represented the pride of each House , but importantly brought our year together to consider the beautiful force of hope , which so intricately yet imperceptibly embraces our society from all angles .
I also represented Scotch at the Rotary Four Way Public Speaking Competition – in which competitors were asked to consider their own topic of choice through the lens of four guiding moral criteria , outlined by the international Rotary Four Way Test . In the true spirit of making a difference through speaking , I was able to raise $ 1000 for charity through the competition .
The beauty of Public Speaking is the journey on which every new topic takes you . It ’ s the people you meet , the ideas you explore and the perspectives you hear that will go on to influence your life . Our voice is one of the most powerful tools we have in a world that is built upon increasing argument and opinion . To all Scotch boys : I encourage you to throw your hat in the ring and try public speaking . RONAN AHL – YEAR 11
26 Great Scot Issue 166 – September 2022