The English-Speaking Union (Queensland Branch) Public Speaking competition will be held in 2021.
This competition requires students to speak on a subject of their choice inspired by a broad ESU nominated topic connected to ESU’s philosophy. The specific 2021 Heat nominated topic for each level is shown below. Students in the Grand Finals will speak to new nominated topics for the required Prepared speaking section and then an Impromptu speaking section. Each student will receive valuable oral feedback from our judges on the night of speech presentation.
Secondary Schools Public Speaking Competition
Senior Division
On 26 July, 17 students from public and private schools competed in the North Queensland regional Final of the Senior competition. Three high profile adjudicators, Toastmaster Dr Sue Bandaranaike, former Mayor of Townsville Mike Reynolds and Inter-school coach Mark Franich commented on the high standard of the competition.
The winner was Barnabas Juhasz, Townsville Grammar School.
The winner of the North Queensland Final is Barnabas Juhasz from Townsville Grammar School will travel to Brisbane to compete in the Grand Final.
ESU is very proud of the growing profile of our North Queensland regional competition and its Co- ordinator Joanne Keune. The North Queensland competition is proudly sponsored by Pimlico High School.
The Senior Winner is sponsored by ESU Queensland with a return flight to Brisbane to compete in the South East Queensland Grand Final.
The 2021 Intermediate and Junior North Queensland Public Speaking finals were held Wednesday 28 April with approximately 60 attending. Major schools from the Townsville area were in attendance – Townsville Grammar School, St Patrick’s College, Pimlico SHS, St Margaret Mary’s College, Cathedral School of St Anne & St James, Heatley SHS and Mareeba SHS (the latter via video-link)
The topic of the Junior Prepared Speech was: “The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled.” – Plutarch
The topic of the Intermediate Prepared Speech was: “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep balance you must keep moving.” – Albert Einstein.
Congratulations to our ESU North Queensland Heat winners in the Public Speaking Junior and Intermediate divisions.
Junior Winner: Benjamin Sarnyai (Pimlico High School)
Intermediate Winner: Aiko Treager (Pimlico High School)
The adjudicators were impressed with the student standard.
The winners will travel to Brisbane to compete in the Grand Final.
Grand Final Junior 24 May 2021 Brisbane.
The Junior Grand Final will be held 6pm on 17 May at ‘The Newmarket’ hall, 212 Ashgrove Avenue, Ashgrove
The topic for the Prepared Speech is: “Kind words are short and easy to speak. Their echoes are truly endless – Mother Terresa”. (3 minutes) Students will also deliver an Impromptu Speech (2 minute) on the night.
Grand Final Intermediate 17 May 2021 Brisbane
The Intermediate Grand Final will be held 6pm on 17 May at “The Newmarket” hall, 212 Ashgrove Avenue, Ashgrove.
Finalists will deliver a Prepared Speech on the topic: “The Networked You” (4 minutes) and then give a 2 minute Impromptu speech.