2024: The Ainger Peck Public Speaking Award
 

This unique competition is now in its 35th year. The Rotary Club of Richmond is proud of this achievement as it has come a long way since it started in 1990 with only students involved from two Richmond secondary schools.  Today it is open to secondary school students from invited schools in the Melbourne metropolitan area. Since its inception over 2000 students have entered this competition which is highly regarded   and supported by the Melbourne school community. In 2024 there was an entry of 102 students from 36 schools in the four NHP sponsored heats which were held in the Auditorium at the Lyceum Building at Melbourne Girls’ College.

 

Two other heats were also held at Melbourne Girls’ College for secondary schools in Richmond. The NHP sponsored senior heat for years 10-12 is for the Richmond Schools’ Ainger Peck Trophy and was contested by eight students and won by Zac Kurzbock a year 10 student from Richmond High School. There were also some excellent speeches from the eleven students in the junior heat for years 7-9 from both Melbourne Girls’ College and Richmond High School. Delyse Weisz was the adjudicator providing encouraging feedback and advice to the participants. 

 

The Ainger Peck Award Final was held on May 27, 2024, at the Amora Hotel Riverwalk with an attendance of just over 90 Rotarians, partners, guests, parents and finalists.   President  Nia Holdenson welcomed  the following guests : District Governor Elect  Michael Lapina and his son Alex ,  District Governor Nominee Peter Shepheard, Past District Governor Grant Hocking and Melissa Hocking  ,  Des  O’Shannassy D9800 – Youth  Speaking Ambassador  -  District Vocational Service Committee,   David Ainger  Shaunagh O’ Connell, Melbourne Girls’  College ,  Adjudicators Stephen Yolland  and  Jemma   Munoz-  Richards, the ten finalists,  members of the Rotary Club of  Richmond  with their partners and friends, and representatives from the schools along with parents and friends. . 

 

 At this dinner the audience were treated to ten excellent presentations from a group of talented young speakers from years 7 to 12. The finalists were from seven schools with the winner being    Henry Flintoft a year 11 student from Melbourne Grammar School who received $500, an inscribed Winner’s Medallion and his name on the perpetual Ainger Peck Trophy.  Chloe Davies from Huntingtower School was runner up receiving $400, and Joshua Verner from St Kevin’s was third receiving $300.   Phoebe Cohen from Melbourne Girls Grammar won the Rotary Club of Richmond‘s Michael O’Sullivan Encouragement Award prize of $200.

 

It is important to acknowledge the excellent adjudication panel of Stephen Yolland, Jemma Munoz- Richards and Delyse Weisz .This year was Stephen Yolland’s thirteen   year of adjudication, Jemma Munoz - Richard’s   11th year, Delyse Weisz’s 5th year. They are very passionate about developing the art of speaking in young people and we are indeed fortunate to have their ongoing support and commitment to the Anger Peck Award.

 

Thank you to Ben Hosking, Mark Dwyer, Claire Davison and Trevor Pang for their support and assistance helping me in organising this year’s competition. Also, thanks to all members of the club who assisted especially at the heats at MGC.  

 

The Ainger Peck Award this year would not have been possible without the ongoing   financial support of the Ainger and Peck families and NHP. A special thank you to the Principal of Melbourne Girls’ College Tamy Stubley and her staff for allowing to us conduct the heats in the Auditorium at the Lyceum building at the school.   

 

This year saw the Rotary District 9800 hold their first Youth Public Speaking Championship at Parliament House (Victoria) on June 18, 2024.  There was a Junior and Senior Section competition and the adjudication panel selected four students from heats and finalists.