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Ainger Peck Public speaking awards open for 2023

2022: The Ainger Peck Public Speaking Award

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2022

This unique competition is now in its 32nd 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. This year there was a entry of 60 students from 25 schools in the four NHP sponsored heats which were held in  the  Library 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 it was won by  Krystalia  Triandafillidis a  year 12 student who also was the winner in 2021  . Krystalia   with the two other place getters were eligible to represent  MGC in the NHP open  schools heats.  There were also some excellent speeches from the  twenty students in the junior heat for years 7-9  from  both  Melbourne Girls’ College   and Richmond High School . Maddy Halprin a year 9  student from Richmond High School  was the winner  .  Jemma  Munoz -  Richards  was the adjudicator providing  encouraging feedback and advice to the participants . 

 

The  Ainger  Peck Award  Final was held on May 23 2022 at the Amora Hotel Riverwalk with an attendance of just  over 70  Rotarians, partners, guests, parents and finalists.   President  Janice Peeler welcomed  the following guests : District Govenor  Dale Hoy and Maureen ,  Assistant  Governor  Graeme Hope  ,  Des  O’Shanassy D9800 – Youth  Speaking Ambassador  -  District Vocational Service Committee  and  Irene  ,   John Ainger  , Kate and Scott Lidgett  - NHP  , City  of Yarra  Mayor  Cr  Sophie Ward,     Shaunagh O’ Connell  Assistant  Principal of  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. . 

 

The Ainger  Peck Award  Final was of a very  high standard with the audience being entertained by  the  ten  student’s four-minute presentations of  a topic of their own choice There was a diversity of  speech  topics and  presentation styles from the talented students which made the  adjudication  very challenging  . The  finalists  from  years 9 to 12 were from eight schools with the  winner being  Chloe  Davies  a year 10  student  from  Huntingtower  School . Chloe delivered a very  engaging speech on “ the importance of smiles “  and received the  First Prize of  $400; a Winner’s Medallion and  her  name inscribed on the Ainger  Peck  Award  Perpetual Trophy.  Eric Rametta   of  St Kevin’s College  was runner up  and received $300.   Michael Xiao  of  Huntingtower    School  was third and received $200 and  Maddy Halprin  of Richmond High School    won  the  Rotary Club of  Richmond ‘s Michael  O’Sullivan  Encouragement Award of $125.

 

 

It is important to acknowledge the excellent adjudication panel of Stephen Yolland,   and Jemma Munoz- Richards. This year was Stephen Yolland’s  eleventh   year of adjudication ,Jemma  Munoz - Richard’s   ninth  . They are both  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 Mark  Dwyer ,Gabe Parr , Claire Davison  and James  Hamilton  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 library at the school   .   

 

On a positive  note  despite  some challenges in organizing  the competition  including    ongoing  pandemic concerns and some covid cases we were fortunate  to conduct both the heats and final  without any  disruptions .  

 

Ben Hosking

Chair

Ainger Peck Award Committee

Rotary Club of Richmond      

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