The Southern Highlands Model of United Nation Assembly recommenced after the suspension due to Covid.
The three Southern Highlands Rotary Clubs, (Rotary Club of Bowral-Mittagong, Rotary Club of Berrima District and the Rotary Club of Moss Vale) along with Rob Uhl President of the Rotary E-Club of Brindabella worked to bring this amazing program back to life!
(Group photo in front of the Wingecarribee Shire Council Chambers)
Wingecarribee Shire Council again donated their newly renovated Council Chamber to us for use on the day. Now more open, brighter and sta
te of the art IT it was a joy to be there. Rotarian Travis Holland (Rotary E-Club of Brindabella) officiated as the Secretary General ably assisted by wife Megan Barrell (also Rotary E-Club of Brindabella) in the secretarial duties.
te of the art IT it was a joy to be there. Rotarian Travis Holland (Rotary E-Club of Brindabella) officiated as the Secretary General ably assisted by wife Megan Barrell (also Rotary E-Club of Brindabella) in the secretarial duties. Nine teams participated from the Highlands High Schools, some schools submitting two teams. The countries they represented were South Africa, Germany, Japan, China, Ukraine, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and India.
The Adjudicators/Judges on the day were DGN Andrea Grosvenor, Rotarian and retired lawyer Dominic Williams and Graham Kelly who has an impressive resume including sitting on the United Nations Committee on International Trade Law and Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
There were no weak teams on the day and it was a very close competition. The winner of the overall debate was announced as the team from Oxley College representing Saudi Arabi, second was India again from Oxley College and the winner of the Peace Prize was Germany from Southern Highlands Christian School. Congratulations also goes to Iran, South Africa, India and Saudi Arabia for their dress giving authenticity to the proceedings.
Both winning teams, Saudi Arabia and Germany will now be sponsored by the Highlands Rotary Clubs to attend the National MUNA to beheld in Canberra later in the year. Oxley College is now also going to sponsor India to go onto Canberra as well. St Pauls International School participated for the very first time but has now stated they will most definitely be back next year!
Some highlights outside of the actual debate was a young man Joshua who was part of the winning team representing Japan in 2018. He also gained skills in participating in the National competition but has gone onto forge a career in International Law. He has also now spoken in the UN and debated on the world stage. A parent and the teacher from Southern Highlands Christian school also related the benefits of this program. One of his students who participated in the initial Southern Highlands MUNA changed her career path from Veterinary Science and it now studying International Law at Canberra Uni and working with the Nepalese Embassy. A parent who had another child in this years team stated his older son has also now gone into studying International Relations.
Photos and story courtesy of Rob Uhl:
Winning team of overall debate Saudi Arabia – Oxley College
Second: India - Oxley College
Peace Prize – Germany Southern Highlands Christian School