New legacy for public speaking comp

LEGACY’S junior public speaking competition is back for another year where students aged twelve to fourteen will compete and develop their oral communication skills

The competition will be held at Legacy House on Wednesday 12 June from 9.30am with students from most of Ballarat’s secondary schools expected to compete.

Competition organiser Allan Mckinnon said public speaking is an important skill for young people to carry into the rest of their lives.

“To be able to communicate openly with people is important,” he said.

“It’s about getting up at a birthday party and being able to thank people because if you can do that confidently, it’s a public speaking background that’s helped you there.

“Or if you go to the doctor and want to try and tell the doctor what’s wrong with you without being embarrassed.”

Participants must prepare a five-minute speech on a topic related to voluntary service, caring and comradeship, or the need for remembrance, and give a two-minute impromptu speech.

Later this year the state and national finals will also be held in Ballarat after Melbourne Legacy withdrew from the competition last year.

“It was a big shock,” said Mr Mckinnon. “We didn’t know if it was going to keep going or going to fold up.

“I said I’d have a go at running it and worked out what to do.”

This will be the first time the national final is held in Ballarat and Mr Mckinnon said that having the best young speakers in Australia in town will showcase the importance of these skills.

“To be able to get up in front of a crowd and not get flustered is a real skill, it’s a lifelong skill,” he said.