The Rotary Club of Lilydale held its annual Primary School Speech Competition (PSSC) earlier this month and the audience was treated to 10 very impressive speeches by Grade 5 and Grade 6 students from five local primary schools.
Jointly MC’d by Toastmasters and Rotary Lilydale, the event is held after each participating school conducts heats, with two students per school competing on the night.
Held in an appropriately intimate setting at Mt Evelyn Christian School, the students looked and sounded like professional public speakers.
Judged by members from Wandin Toastmasters and Croydon and Yarra Toastmasters, their job was not an easy one due to the high calibre of every speech.
William from Montrose Primary School won first prize with his speech about the ‘mysteries of the deep sea’. William’s sense of humour and witty approach garnered many laughs from the audience.
Amelie from Mt Evelyn Christian School shone colourfully with her beautiful cape and won second prize with her speech ‘if I could have a superpower what would it be’.
Eliza from Bimbadeen Heights spoke passionately about ‘the best part about living on earth’ and won third prize. Eliza spoke of our national floral emblem and her hairstyle featured pretty sprays of Golden Wattle.
Both William and Amelie will represent their schools at the Rotary District 9815 PSSC Grand Final later in the year.
Club President, Des Shiel commented that the competition provides students with a wonderful opportunity to further develop creative writing skills and practice public speaking.
“The amount of research each student undertakes to deliver their speech really shows their dedication and desire to deliver a first class speech,” Des said.
After the formalities, students, their families, friends and school representatives were treated to a supper prepared by the wonderful volunteers from Rotary Lilydale. The audience mingled with Toastmasters, Rotarians and representatives from Community Bank Mt Evelyn Bendigo Bank who has generously committed to sponsoring the event, at this stage until 2026.
