Young leaders speaking out

MOUNT Gambier High School Captain Callum McIntyre-Gregory (pictured) will represent the Lower SE in the next stage of the Lions Youth of the Year competition after winning the zone event in Mount Gambier.

An audience of about 70 people watched as the Lions Club of Mount Gambier’s representative was named winner of both the public speaking section and overall Zone 11 final at the Community RSL on Tuesday night.

The other finalists were Penola HS student Mia Gartner sponsored by Penola Lions, and MGHS students Alisha Cram sponsored by Gambier City Lions, Annapurna Anbu sponsored by Kalangadoo Lions, and Caitlin Hitchon sponsored by the Lions Club of Blue Lake City Lioness.

“This will be a stepping stone to you having more confidence as you continue your journey in life, career opportunities or simply expressing your opinions,” Zone 11 Chairperson Beryl Mahoney told the students.

“Many of you participated in the Lions Mad Minute in Year 5. This is another step on the Lions public speaking stage.

“Our country is in good hands with these young people,” she said.

The students had earlier been interviewed by judges Ian McKay from UniSA, Beccy Field from the Lions Club of Mount Gambier, and Tracey Wanganeen from the Head to Health service.

Callum, who also won the public speaking section in last year’s zone competition, addressed wokeism in his prepared speech.

“Would you rather wake up to a world with freedom, expression, creativity – a world where your ideas and opinions matter, or to wake up to a world devoid of expression, creativity and conversations?” he said.

“Woke is when one is aware of social injustices, discrimination and oppression.

“Woke’s goals are undeniably positive, yet its delivery has been fraught with challenges, linking woke to overt political correctness at the detriment of freedom of expression,” Callum said.

Other students spoke about the power of collaboration in rural education, the disadvantages of being a gifted student, an indigenous perspective on life in Australia, and the need to do more to support young people’s mental health.

The students also answered impromptu questions about the benefits of volunteering and contemporary issues concerning young people.

Callum will now compete in the District Final of Lions Youth of the Year in Adelaide on March 23.

The State final will be hosted by Blue Lake City Lioness on April 6.