“EXCELLENT and a credit to their school,” is how Sawtell Rotarian Alan Freedman described the participants’ efforts in the Coffs Harbour Christian Community School’s Speech and Poetry competition, ‘Speak Out’, held on Tuesday, 13 September 2022 at the Bonville Campus.

The competition is keenly supported by Sawtell Rotary.

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The judging panel comprised Alan Freedman and Ray Baldwin from Sawtell Rotary, Coffs Harbour Toastmasters members Barbara Steward, David Whyte and their President Mark West and the School’s Librarian, Sandra Gorham.

“We judge the students on presentation, stance, voice projection, relativity and body language,” Alan told News Of The Area.

“There were several winners on the day in each age/class group; each student was given points on their individual performance and totalled at the end of each session.

“Those who performed were of a very high standard and should be commended for volunteering,” said Alan.

“It was a pleasure as always to be part of the judging panel.”

Mark West from Toastmasters told NOTA, “Public speaking is one of the most essential skills to develop.

“Anyone learning public speaking increases their confidence, vocabulary, and critical thinking.

“I highly recommend everyone, especially young people, to take up public speaking.

“It changed my life for the better; imagine what it can do to yours,” he said.

The Speak Out Speech and Poetry competition has been organised by Coffs Harbour Christian Community School for its students for many years and Sawtell Rotary have been adjudicating since 2014.

“Ray and I have been participating in the judging just about every year since then apart from Covid years,” said Alan.

Students from Years 6 to 12 compete in different classes.

Stage 6 (Year 11 and 12) winners are Finley Dowd for Poetry and Caitlin Mann for Speech.

Second places are Holly Payton and Adam Szymfeld.

Third places were won by Wil Kalanj and Melody Ray/Tha Bawi Tin Thei.

Stage 5 (Years 9 and 10) winners: Solomon Walker and Hannah Winter; second places: Lois Kpodo and Delenn Croaker and third place winner in Poetry is Cameron Geytenbeek.

Middle School (Years 6 – 8) Year 6 winners are Isabella Hutchinson and Kaitlyn Pelt for Poetry and Amelie Davis for Speech.

Stage 4 (Years 7 & 8) Poetry winner is Libby Lynn and Speech winner is Gabriella Broekman. Second places are Cara Potgieter and Ashleigh Geytenbeek; third place Speech winner is Addison Louis.

By Andrea FERRARI