SENIOR SCHOOL
Award winning speakers
Public speaking provides students the
opportunity to communicate their beliefs,
passions and ideals to a wide audience
both within and outside the Guildford
Grammar School community. It not only
helps develop presentation skills and the
ability to construct logical, well researched
arguments, but it gives students the forum
to share their concerns about the world they
live in. This year we have seen the public
speaking program continue to grow, with
students taking part in numerous internal
and external competitions.
The students performed exceptionally well
in the senior public speaking competition.
The students were required to speak for five
minutes on the theme of “is it the truth?”
They were given free reign to interpret
this broad topic. Boys presented on a wide
variety of topics ranging from dating,
perception of information, grandmother’s
comments on Facebook and the debate
of gains versus cardio. First place went
to Bennett House with David Ratcliffe’s
engaging speech awarded outstanding
results for both matter and manner.
Two students, Benjamin Armstrong (11Fr)
and Jake Roosendaal (11He) entered
the Australian British Society Plain English
Speaking competition. Both students were
required to give a six minute rehearsed
speech on a subject of their choice and
a three minute impromptu speech on
a topic given on the day. Both students
achieved outstanding results, placing in the
top five public speakers in the statewide
competition. Benjamin Armstrong made
it through to the final round and placed
second overall; an incredible achievement.
Left to right: Cassius Hynam, Jack Grant, Ms Sophie Bannister,
Mitchell Robinson and Benjamin Armstrong.
The Youth Out Loud Public Speaking
Competition, held by the City of Swan,
provides a unique opportunity for students
of all years to speak out on a given topic.
This year’s theme was “20/20 twenty years
ago, twenty years in the future, what do
you see?” Guildford Grammar School had
five representatives in this competition:
Benjamin Armstrong (11Fr), Mitchell
Robinson (11St) Nicholas Hill (9 He),
Jack Grant (10Sc) and Cassius Hynam
(10Be). All boys were congratulated by the
event coordinators on their conduct and
thought provoking speeches on the night.
Mitchell Robinson finished in third place
in his category of Year 11-12s. Cassius
Hynam was awarded first place for his Year
9-10 division, as well as being awarded the
inaugural Charlie Gregorini Memorial Shield
for best overall speaker for his moving
speech calling for a change in ideals.
I look forward to continuing to develop and
broaden the public speaking opportunities
offered at Guildford Grammar School to
further advance the already outstanding
results achieved by the students.
Ms Sophie Bannister
Co-ordinator of public speaking
Keys for Life
Guildford Grammar School was one of 100 schools recognised for
outstanding leadership in road safety, through the Keys for Life predriver education program. The program teaches young people the
rules, risks and responsibilities of driving and has been implemented
as part of the School’s Year 10 Friday afternoon co-curricular
program.
Award Recipient, Ms Lucy Felstead said, “It has been a pleasure to
be involved in the Keys for Life program and we have appreciated
all the support and resource materials provided by SDERA over the
years. Our aim is to make a difference to the way young people
drive, help them appreciate that having a licence is privilege and
hopefully save lives by assisting them to become better drivers.
Thank you to Ms Felstead for her long term commitment to this
important initiative.
15