Preparing well, acting confident and using the stage are the keys to presenting a successful speech, say this year’s Legacy Junior Public Speaking Award winners.
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Stepping down from the lecturn at Legacy House on Thursday, the three winners offered their advice to those in the crowd.
Warrnambool College students Tazmyn Reuel and Eliza McLauchlan were joint top-prize winners, with Emmanuel College student Olivia Kelly announced runner-up.
The state-wide event, now in its 30th year, allows secondary students aged 12 to 14 to compete in public speaking before local Legacy groups.
The south-west trio wrote and performed a five-minute speech on a chosen topic, then performed an impromptu two-minute speech on a topic presented to them five minutes prior.
Event judges were Legatees, members of the charity providing services to Australian families suffering after defence force service.
The competition consisted of 14 entrants.
All familiar with the stage and public speaking, the girls said preparation was paramount.
“Write down dot points that you can elaborate on,” Eliza said.
Her opponent Olivia agreed.
“Pretend you’re confident and use your body on stage,” she suggested.
Organisers of the annual event said the range of topics the girls were interested in showed great maturity.
The winning trio spoke on equality for Indigenous Australians, the effects of media on children and animal testing.
The teens will now progress to the regional finals with a hope to be crowned national winner.
