Lions Club Of Raymond Terrace Celebrate the Return Of Celebration Of Words in 2021 Port Stephens Port Stephens News by News Of The Area - Modern Media - March 23, 2021 The 2019 winning team from Irrawang High School with teacher Hollie Sheriff, Jessica Fellows-Wilsch, Amber Eldridge, and Abby Keeley with Lions Club of Raymond Terrace President Kate Moore. PORT Stephens is about to see the best of the best in our young speakers at the annual Celebration of Words – better known as the COWS event. Last year the Lions Club of Raymond Terrace who organise the annual Celebration Of Words event was disappointed not to proceed with the event due to COVID-19. However the Lions have worked hard to ensure that in 2021 the event will go ahead with students from four Port Stephens Schools competing for the prize. Lion Club of Raymond Terrace member Ted Arneson told News Of The Area, “The COWs Event which is on the night of the 26 March at the Raymond Terrace Senior Citizen’s Hall with the doors open 6:00 pm. “There will be three students from year 10 at each school – Hunter River High, Irrawang High, Medowie Christian and St. Philips Christian College competing,” he said. Each student will speak for three minutes on one of three given subjects relative to youth in the area. In 2019 the speeches delivered by the competitors at the Celebration of Words contributed to the Port Stephens Council’s Youth Plan. Not only does the Celebration of Words encourage the development of confident communication but given the subject matter it highlights what is important to our local youth in their own words. Taking on the challenge for the students will try their metal and develop their leadership skills which will stand them in good stead now and in the future. By Marian SAMPSON