From left: Johnny Fowler, Kade Carter, Sophie Sowry, Leiana Rivers, Lola McGhie, William Mabey, Simone Kittow, Logan Wheeler, James Squires.
From left: Johnny Fowler, Kade Carter, Sophie Sowry, Leiana Rivers, Lola McGhie, William Mabey, Simone Kittow, Logan Wheeler, James Squires.
Despite the uncertainty over Covid-19, Pahiatua Lions Club was able to hold its annual Junior Speechmaker Contest, meaning there are no gaps in the 34 years that the competition has been running.
This event is an important date in the school year, one that all 11 primary schools within theBush District spends many hours building up to and, along the way, giving students the opportunity to write and deliver speeches within their own schools.
The value of this important life skill should not be underestimated. The young people who represented their schools did a superb job of putting across their topic to an appreciative audience of friends, family and teachers.
The speeches were varied and interesting ranging from why I don't like spelling, movies and Google, through to "the lies parents tell". The three judges, Rebecca West (Tararua College head of English), Jaekob Jolly (senior student leader) and Hans Welling (author) had a very difficult job picking the first three places.
However in the end they returned to announce their picks. Simone Kittow from Alfredton School took third place with an animated speech about the Auckland Sky Jump, and Johnny Fowler from Pongaroa School took second place with a well-delivered speech on "militant vegans".
However St Anthony's School again took home the shield with Logan Wheeler's well-crafted speech on risk taking and learning by practical activity.
Despite the fact that the judges were required to decide on the top three places, every competitor should consider themselves a winner. They had all won in their own schools and acquitted themselves with distinction in this final competition, something they can be truly proud of.
