2022: The Ainger Peck Public Speaking Award
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