Following the success of the inaugural event last year, Bayspeak 2022, launched on May 10th with the first heat covering a wide and stimulating range of topics, and the final held on the 8th June.This Rotary Youth initiative involves a public speaking competition for Bayside secondary colleges and sets out to boost the self-confidence and communication skills of students at all levels.
Janet Grey from Bayside Toastmasters commented that all the speakers showed courage in accepting the challenge of public speaking, a skill becoming more and more important for effective communication, and they should all be proud of their presentations.Some of the topics for consideration included: Should the voting age be reduced to 14? Just what’s gone wrong with the New York Met’s Red Carpet Fashion Gala? How can we slow the extinction rate of wildlife? Should schools limit homework?
Bayspeak is facilitated by local Rotary Clubs, with the support of Toastmasters International. Its aim is to encourage and enhance the public speaking skills of the students who are provided with an opportunity to develop self-confidence, build their creativity, and critical thinking, enabling both personal and professional growth. The successful inaugural competition in 2021 was won by Brighton Secondary College (Junior Section Years 7 – 9.) and Firbank Grammar (Senior Section Years 10 – 12.)
In 2022, thirteen Bayside schools will take part in the competition. Cash prizes are awarded to the winning finalists and trophies to the winning schools. Four schools participated in this year’s first heat: Shelford Girls Grammar, Star of the Sea, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (Bentleigh) and Brighton Grammar, who also hosted the event. Speakers from Brighton Grammar and Star of the Sea took the honours: Conor Giles (Brighton Grammar) came first in the Junior Section, followed by Juliet Gattuso and Hannah Cunningham (Star of the Sea.) The Senior Section was won by Natalie Paron (Star of the Sea,) followed by Charles Sabin (Brighton Grammar) and Mietta Ackland (Star of the Sea.) Those contestants will now go through to the final of the competition, to be held at St Leonards College on June 8th.
The adjudicators for the first round were Janet Grey (Bayside Toastmasters International,) and Suhasini Sachdev and John Beilharz (Kingston Communicators.) Bayspeak is facilitated by the Rotary Clubs of Brighton, Brighton North, Sandringham, Cheltenham, Bentleigh Moorabbin, and Glen Eira. McDonald, Slater and Lay Lawyers have generously provided sponsorship for the competition.
The second heat took place at Firbank Grammar on May 24th.
The Final took place on the 8th June. James Newbury, MLA for Brighton, introduced the event and gave the Acknowledgement of Country. The MC was Julie Avery, President of the Rotary Club of Brighton. Dale Hoy, District Governor for Rotary District 9800, presented certificates to all the contestants.
Congratulations to the winners of Bayspeak 2022:
- Junior Section Winner (Years 7-9)
- Winner: Harrison M from St Bede’s College.
- Runner-up: Alicia P from St Leonard’s College
- Senior Section Winner (Years 10-12)
- Winner: Josephine M from Caulfield Grammar.
- Runner-up: Loren P, from Caulfield Grammar.
The winners each received a $400 cash prize and the runners-up received $100. The winning schools were awarded a trophy which they hold until the end of the next competition in 2023.
The organisers wish to thank McDonald, Slater and Lay Lawyers for their sponsorship and support.
Submitted by: Geoff Dobbs, Rotary Brighton North