Public Speaking Competition

We began the week following the Changeover with the Club Final of the Public Speaking Competition, held at the Tatts Hotel on Tuesday 27^th June. We had two students from Inverell High School compete in this – Jasmine Purves and Josh Cathie. Both students had to deliver two speeches – a 5 minute prepared speech linked to Rotary’s Four Way Test and an impromptu speech of 2 minutes. Our adjudicators Mrs Carole South, Mr Paul Alliston and Mr Peter Caddey faced a tough decision, with Jasmine being declared the winner with her prepared speech titled ‘Youth Mental Health’.

Jasmine progressed and competed at the Area 5 Final, held at the Inverell RSM club on Sunday 13^th August. This was against seven other club final winners, three from Armidale schools, one from Uralla, one from Walcha, one from Macintyre High School and Jasmine from Inverell High. With another difficult decision, Jasmine also won the Area 5 Final and now moved on to the Regional Semi-Final.

The Regional Semi-Final was held on 15^th October online via zoom. This was a new experience, as Jasmine did not see any other competitors lie she had at the club and area finals. Jasmine was one of seven competitors and was placed in the top four. She had progressed to the Regional Final at the Rotary District 9660 Showcase.  

Jasmine, along with her father, mentor Mrs Ros Scoble and myself travelled to the District Showcase on 25^th November. Jasmine was one of four students who had made it this far into the competition, with the other three participants hailing from Aberdeen, Taree and Port Macquarie. Jasmine spoke wonderfully and was placed 3^rd in this round of the competition.

I would like to thank Jasmine for all her efforts in preparing for each round of the competition and congratulate her on all her achievements! I would also like to thank Mrs Ros Scoble for her efforts in mentoring and assisting to prepare Jasmine for the competition.