Students go head-to-head in public speaking competition

THE nerves are raw, the knuckles are white and contestants are breaking out in cold sweats - it was that time of year again; the Rotary Club s annual public speaking competition for young people.

THE nerves are raw, the knuckles are white and contestants are breaking out in cold sweats - it was that time of year again; the Rotary Club's annual public speaking competition for young people.

Last week at the Community College 18 young people, in six teams, went head-to-head in what are the 'club' heats - the winners going on to a District wide competition then on to a Regional Final.

And this year the overall winners of this year's Rotary Club of Exmouth Youth Speaks Competition were Joshua, Chloe and Bethany who were a year 10 team from Exmouth Community College.

The intermediate winners (the younger age group) were Holly, Hannah and Jack whose topic was Fast Food - a serious subject laced with humour.

Each team comprises a proposer who speaks for two minutes, a speaker who speaks for six minutes and a seconder who proposes the vote of thanks for two minutes.

Points are deducted for exceeding the time allowed for speaking.

The competition is designed to give young people a public speaking experience and a chance to hone their skills in front of an audience.

The winning team's topic was 'What happens next?' discussing deep questions about life after death, which John Wokersien chairman of the adjudicators praised because, he said, they handled both subjects with 'intellect and maturity.'

He said "The teams all were excellent and gave the judges a difficult time to select a winner.

"We continue to be impressed by the quality of the Exmouth Community College pupils and Rotary appreciates the close links we share with the College.

"The winners go through to the next round Rotary District competition. Three other teams were so good that they will also be put forward to the next round.