The English-Speaking Union (Queensland Branch)
Secondary Schools Public Speaking Competition
Grand Final Junior Division Queensland Winners
The Grand Final was held Monday 24 May 2021 at the Newmarket Hall, 212 Ashgrove Avenue, Ashgrove. Finalists presented their 3 minutes Prepared Speech on the Topic: “Kind words are short and easy to speak: Their echoes are truly endless” – Mother Theresa. Participants then presented a 2 minute Impromptu speech.
Approximately 30 parents, family members, teachers and ESU Board members enjoyed, described by several audience members as a ‘wonderful evening’ that was ‘entertaining and inspirational’.
The 2021 Queensland Junior Division winners are:
Portai Taggert Cannon Hill Anglican College (Ist Prize)
Lucus Lu Brisbane Grammar School – (2nd Prize).
Saxon Miller All Saints Anglican College (3rd Prize)
Queensland Junior Division Final participants with the Judges.
L to R Annette Stoddart, Saxon Miler (All Saints Anglican College), Lucus Lu (Brisbane Grammar School), Portia Taggert (Cannon Hill Anglican College), Benjamin Sarnyai (Pimlico SHS), Dr Lesley Irvine, Om Thanker (Brisbane Grammar School) , Charli Horne (Centenary SHS), Ojas Jindal (Toowoomba Anglican School), Samuel Kennedy (St Andrews Lutheran College)
Queensland Junior Division 2021 Winners
Saxon Miller All Saints Anglican College (3rd Prize), Portai Taggert Cannon Hill Anglican College (Ist Prize), Lucus Lu (Brisbane Grammar School) – 2nd Prize
The English-Speaking Union (Queensland Branch)
Secondary Schools Public Speaking Competition
2021 Grand Final Intermediate Division
The 2021 Intermediate Public Speaking Grand final was held Wednesday 5 May with 11 students competing in front of 30 parents.
The topic of the Prepared speech was: Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep balance, you must keep moving. Albert Einstein
Congratulations to our ESU Public Speaking Intermediate Heat winners who now go through to the Finals.
Heat winners: Jasper Vinen – Iona College, Jackson Woodhead – Iona College, Joseph Lewis – Marist College Ashgrove, Dominic Forrest – Brisbane Grammar School, Lachlan Goodhew – Centenary SHS, Eli Gearing – Centenary SHS
Adjudicators Emeritus Prof Caroline Hatcher and Dr Lesley Irvine (QUT) were impressed with the interesting exploration of ideas and the polished presentation of all participants which challenged the adjudicators in their evaluations.
L to R Jasper Vinen – Iona College, Jackson Woodhead – Iona College, Joseph Lewis – Marist College Ashgrove, Dominic Forrest – Brisbane Grammar School, Lachlan Goodhew – Centenary SHS, Eli Gearing – Centenary SHS.
The English-Speaking Union (Queensland Branch)
Secondary Schools Public Speaking Competition
2021 Grand Final Senior Division
Students competing in the ESU Senior Public Speaking Competition 2021 arrived for their Grand Final with an already strong sense of being winners. After having to cancel the Grand Final on 9 August due to COVID safety restrictions and lockdown, ESU proudly managed to deliver a chance for face to face competition on 2 September.
Five South-East Queensland finalists were joined by a North Queensland finalist. The competition was strong, with a diverse group of schools having representation.
Adjudicators Annette Stoddart and Dr Caroline Hatcher commented on thought provoking and sophisticated responses to the topic. Many of the students brought their personal experiences of the challenges of their role as school Seniors to the Prepared and Impromptu topics and the opportunities they have to make a difference in the lives of others.
Congratulations to all our finalists as our leaders of the future.
The winners of the hard fought competition:
First Prize – Barnabas Juhasz of Townsville Grammar School
Second Prize – Seth Marinduque of Centenary State High School
Third Prize – Angus Duncan of Brisbane Grammar School
L to R Caroline Hatcher, Judge,Seth Marinduque (2nd, Centenary SHS),Barnabas Juhasz (1st, Townsville Grammar School, Angus (3rd, Brisbane Grammar School) and Annette Stoddart, Judge