Scotch College

Good Scotch men, skilled in speaking

The art of public speaking has grown exponentially at Scotch in ’07.

Words: KEIRON JONES

One might wonder whether Cato the Elder in 140BC had been fortunate enough to leap into a Tardis and time-travel 2,200 years into the future, just to listen to our many Scotch public speakers this year. For surely he had each student in mind when he delivered his immortal words ‘vir bonus, dicendi peritus’ (A good man, skilled in speaking).

In 2007 the art of public speaking has grown apace, with over 60 boys competing in school, regional, state and interstate competitions. Within Scotch, each form and house has had the opportunity to present its finest speakers to its year group. The audience has understandably been enthralled by the content of the speeches and the manner in which they have been delivered.

The Year 7 boys were privileged to have as a special guest Professor David Copolov from Monash University, after whom the Year 7 Award is named. He was extremely impressed with what each boy had to say and the skilfulness of their presentations. Mr Dick Briggs was also a very welcome guest adjudicator at the eponymous ‘Dick Briggs’ award for Year 9 boys.

Scotch boys enjoyed enormous success at regional and state competitions. Lachlan Baird (Year 11) followed in James Garrick’s footsteps by winning the Rotary Four Way Test competition, speaking eloquently on ‘Habitat for Humanity’. His prize included $3,000 for the School, part of which he hopes will be spent on habitat for humanity. James himself (last year’s winner of the Rotary competition) won this year’s Ainger Public Speaking Competition.

At the VCAA Plain Speaking Award, Henry Hedinger (Year 12) spoke superbly on the need to protect multiculturalism, making it to the semi-finals. Blake Connell (Year 10) won the first round of the Rostrum Voice of Youth (which Scotch hosted) but unfortunately, due to a clash of activities, could not compete at the next level. Nivae Anandaganeshan (Year 9) won the first round of the Legacy Junior Speaking Competition but, again, was thwarted by commitments on the same day as the next round of competition.

The finale for the season of public speaking culminated in the Brendan Ferguson Award in August. The winners of each year level’s competition delivered their first-place speeches, and four VCE boys competed for the Brendan Ferguson Award. The winner for 2007 was Lachlan Baird by a narrow margin.

Throughout the year we have heard boys from Years 7 to 12 speak passionately, compellingly, thoughtfully and humorously on a wide range of topics. The spoken word is crucial to all walks of life, and the new standard being aspired to by Scotch Collegians is commendable indeed.

It was particularly pleasing to see boys for whom public speaking was an ‘unknown’ trying it out for size and thoroughly enjoying themselves. Winning competitions is gratifying, but watching students really grapple with challenging topics and learning how to speak to an audience is hugely rewarding.

My thanks for such a successful year go to Mrs Durga Kamte who is the mainstay of public speaking, and James Garrick, Captain of Public Speaking, who has been so supportive of public speaking at Scotch College. GS