Posted by Jenny Haworth on Oct 03, 2018

Junior Speech Contest Finals

A good number of club members supported the finals of this Rotary supported annual event held at Heaton Intermediate last week.
 
We were treated to a wide range of outstanding high quality speeches delivered by sixteen amazing, confident youngsters.
 
They were always well-researched, occasionally very funny and each held the attention of the audience.
 
 
 
President Jenny assisting with handing out certificates to the winning speakers.
What I liked was that all these young people were incredibly well rehearsed and could get up, without showing any nerves, and launch themselves into their speech.
 
I was pleased when the judges were unable to decide on the Year 7 winners and instead selected 3 first place getters. I would have found it very difficult to pick a winner in any of the sections.
 
 
I would like to thank Lois Flanagan for all the work she did in organising the event.  There had already been preliminary rounds which Lois organised and club members Geoff Haworth, Jenny O’Leary, Evan Thomson and Sarah Pride (a Rotary Associate) acted as the judges with Gordon Shields and Deryn Tregurtha being the time keepers. 
 
There was also considerable support from the schools themselves. 
At the finals Liz Courtney & Hayden Ryan were the judges and Gordon Shields the time keeper.  And a special thanks to Tony Tizzard for coming when he had been unwell and scribing all the certificates in his lovely calligraphy.
 
The successful speakers were:
 
Year 5:
First: Will O Donnell - St Josephs
Second: Zebha Hussein - Paparoa St
Highly Commended: Khyla Swann-Jefferson - Paparoa St
Highly Commended: Nicholas Cunningham - Waimairi
 
Year 6:
First: Amelie Hollander - Fendalton
Second: Jaegar Pryce - St Josephs
Highly Commended: Will Harrington - St Andrews
Highly Commended: Chloe Brackenridge - Fendalton
 
 Year 7:
First equal: Ella Walsh - St Josephs
First equal: Catherine Grant - St Josephs
First equal: William Carrodus - St Andrews
Highly Commended: Molly Morrow - St Andrews
 
 Year 8:
First: Monte Gooch - Heaton
Second: Pieta Bailey - St Andrews
Highly Commended: Sophia Shearer - Heaton
Highly Commended: Mia Walker - St Andrews
 
It was a great evening and one that is always well-worth supporting.