General News
1 April, 2025
New legacy for speaking comp
The Wimmera Legacy Club is offering an opportunity for students to gain experience in public speaking by entering the 2025 Regional Victorian Legacy Junior Public Speaking Competition.
The competition is open to students attending Australian secondary schools and colleges, aged 12-14 years, to gain experience in the use of language to convey a message or a point of view to an audience.
"It is an annual competition. However last year attracted smaller numbers than usual but that could be due to the break we had during COVID so we are very keen to attract more students this year," Legacy President Philip Nicks said.
"There are 16 schools in our club's area so we'd like to hear from them."
Schools can enter a maximum of four students per school.
To be eligible students must be between the ages of 12 to 14 on January 1 2025. Students that turn 15 during the year of competiton are also eligible to compete.
"The competition is a very valuable opportunity for students to gain skills and confidence that can be very useful in their school and working life,' Mr Nicks said.
"There are many roles in life that require public speaking, it can be an interview for employment, during employment, joining a club or an organisation or a sporting club.
"The Legacy competition is free to enter and the adjudicators provide feedback that can be very helpful in improving skills."
The closing date for entries is April, Friday 4, 2025.
"People of all ages and positions in life can find public speaking a challenge, so this is an opportunity that I hope many students will take up," Mr Nicks said.
Students are required to present a five minute Prepared Speech and a two minute impromptu speech.
The prepared speech can be on any topic of their choosing relating to the ideals of voluntary service, social justice, caring, personal effort, sacrifice and/or mateship.
Three adjudicators will judge each student's performance on the impact on the audience, relevance, originality, appropriate langage, pace, tone and closing summary.
First prize in the regional finals will receive $200 and a certificate, second prize is $100 and a certificate and third prize is $50 and a certificate.
Students who compete at the Victorian Final receive an engraved medallion and a certificate with the winner and runner up receiving a Collins Book voucher of $300 and $150 respectively.
Local Regional Finals will be held at the Church of Christ Hall at 91 River Road, Horsham on May 28, 2025 and the final will be held at Legacy House 5 Raglan Street, South Ballarat.
More details can be obtained from Legatee Neil Popple LJPS Coordinator on 0417 537 730 or admin@wimmeralegacy.com.au.