Great Scot September 2019 Great Scot 157_September 2019_ONLINE | Page 35

The McWhirter
Conference:
student voice
celebrated
The McWhirter Foundation was named
after twins Ross and Norris McWhirter, co-
founders of The Guinness Book of Records.
The foundation aims to encourage people
to think about the principles and practice of
good citizenship, the importance of personal
initiative and leadership, the value of moral
and physical courage, the balance between
individual responsibility, and the role of the
state and their own role in society.
The McWhirter Conference has been
held at Oxford University for the past 40
years, apart from 2016 and 2017 when it was
held at Cambridge University. Building on
the past success, the inaugural Australian
McWhirter Conference was held this year
at the University of Melbourne on 11 and 12
July, on the topic, ‘Who should set the limits
on free speech?’
RION AHL, EMIL
EDIRISINGHE, JAY
DINGLE, ANDRE
RAMETTA
Four Scotch Year 11 students participated
in this Extension Studies opportunity. The
conference provided a unique educational
opportunity for the exploration of student
voice in an increasingly politicised climate.
The speakers at the McWhirter
Conference surprised us with both the variety
and complexity of their take on a topic we
had assumed to be fairly straightforward.
We heard from four guest speakers over the
two days; each speaker aimed to provide
their own, unique angle on the issue. Sami
Shah addressed free speech as a culmination
of two concepts derived from Athenian
ideologies: isegoria or equal speech – the
idea that all speech is equal in weight; and
parrhesia or frank speech – expressing
yourself honestly and how you want to.
As a result, we were exposed to several
different perspectives – such as the difficulty
of enshrining a Bill of Rights in the Australian
Constitution, the importance of freedom of
speech in Indigenous communities, freedom
of speech as a powerful tool in abating
poverty in migrant communities, and finally,
what constitutes ‘free speech’, with reference
to ancient Greek culture. We were left with
much to ponder following the excellent
addresses from wonderful speakers.
We gathered into syndicate groups
of 11-12 students to discuss the content
offered by the speakers. This was a fantastic
experience, as it was an opportunity to
hear the range of views held by students
of different backgrounds. This aspect of
the conference also provided us with an
opportunity to voice our opinions and interact
with the views of others.
There were also numerous social events
in which students were able to engage with
each other and gain invaluable connections.
A formal dinner allowed us to meet students
from all parts of Victoria, including those
from rural areas. Lunches encouraged
conversation between student groups. These
social events allowed students from all walks
of life to come together and share differing
opinions extending beyond the conference.
To conclude the conference a student
panel was formed, where one student
from each syndicate group was elected to
represent the views of their respective group.
This panel answered questions that each
group had formed in regard to the central
issue. One such question was whether
deception – intentional or otherwise – could
fall under ‘frank speech’ and therefore be
‘free speech’. There was a wide range of
views which culminated in a discussion where
many perspectives were challenged and
carefully pondered. The mature, thought-
provoking and stimulating insights formed
over the course of the conference invigorated
students’ desires to engage in the discourse.
It was extremely fitting for a student
panel to conclude the conference. The
most empowering aspect of this experience
was student voice being celebrated and
encouraged – it was truly a powerful
experience in which young adults gathered to
discuss seemingly ‘adult’ issues that exist in
present-day society.
RION AHL, JAY DINGLE, EMIL EDIRISINGHE
and ANDRE RAMETTA (ALL YEAR 11)
www.scotch.vic.edu.au Great Scot
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