Year four, Ben Venue Public School student, Skye Vaughan has won the local final of the prestigious Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking competition, held at Quirindi on Thursday, June 22.
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For 22 years now the Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition has been encouraging primary school students to explore ideas of multiculturalism in Australia, as well as giving them a place to practice their public speaking skills and improve their confidence.
Last year there were more than 2000 students from all across NSW participate in the competition, culminating in two amazing state finals.
At each stage of the competition contestants present both a prepared speech and an impromptu speech.
The prepared speech must have multicultural content.
Skye chose the topic ‘Every family has a story’ and discussed the perils of her Scottish, Campbell ancestry, as fierce and ruthless highlanders. She also discussed the stories of new Australians as they seek to find peace and harmony, as they settle in Australia.
The impromptu speech is chosen by the adjudicator on the day. Contestants had five minutes to write their impromptu speeches.
Skye was asked to speak on the topic, “Friends are…” She discussed the importance of real life friends as opposed to Facebook friends who may be “unreal” or even dangerous. She examined how self-esteem may be eroded as teenagers compare how many Facebook friends and “likes’ they have to others.
The adjudicator, Rob Lewis made his decision based on the manner, matter and method the contestants employed in presenting their speeches.
He commented that Skye was a confident and engaging speaker. Both her prepared and impromptu speeches were well developed and interesting, showing a balance of personal opinion and information, as well as a balance of humour and sincerity.
As the winner of the local final, Skye, aged nine, will now proceed to the regional final held in August. She will vie for a place in the Years 3&4 state final to be held at the NSW Teachers Federation Conference Centre, Sydney on Friday, November 3.