Community & Business
18 November, 2024
Another successful Lions Youth of Year
Five Pittsworth State High School (PSHS) students had the opportunity to improve their public speaking, communication and interview skills at the annual Lions Youth of the Year on November 6.
“Public speaking is quite an art,” according to one of the judges at last Wednesday’s event.
Public speaking can take many forms, but overall, the act of presenting an idea or opinion in front of an audience in a way that is engaging, can be very daunting for many.
Six students agreed to participate in this year’s Lions Youth of the Year but one unfortunately pulled out on the day due to unforeseen circumstances.
Co-ordinators James Evans and Kerri Crighton invited the 2023 judges: Helen Everingham, Kerry
McIntyre and Tim Hoffmann, to return to the judging panel for this year’s program.
The PSHS participants were Jenna Kronk, Ava Schultz, Keira Quinn, Will Collins and Cooper Hutley.
Each student was interviewed individually by the panel at the high school.
They were asked three general knowledge questions about issues relevant to Queensland, Australia and the world.
These interviews were worth 70 per cent of their overall grade.
The general knowledge questions were:
1. State: Last weekend’s State election saw a change in government. Which party now holds government in Qld and who is the Premier? What was one of the major policies they took to the election? What are your thoughts on that policy?
2. National: Political parties in Australia are divided over future energy options and solutions. What energy options do you know of and what do you believe is the best option for our future?
3. International: Can you explain what is occurring at the moment at a location called the Gaza Strip? Who does it involve? Where is the Gaza Strip?
The judges said the student’s answers were diverse, with contemporary views and historical perspectives.
“I love hearing the views of the young people,” Mr Hoffmann said.
In relation to the first question, each student brought up the LNP’s “Adult Crime, Adult Time” policy, which Mr Hoffmann said was very interesting.
“I was thinking our politicians should be listening to these young people, because they had broader views in relationship to that matter than what our politicians have,” he said.
The official part of the program commenced that evening at the Pittsworth Motor Inn.
Each of the students gave two impromptu talks followed by a prepared speech, which was to be delivered in a strict five minute time frame.
Lion David Garratt was timekeeper.
The questions put to the students during their impromptu speeches were:
1. The rental crisis and homelessness are issues that are considered, along with climate change, to be at the forefront of concerns for Australian youth. In your opinion, why have homelessness and the rental crisis become such an issue and what are your thoughts on addressing these two widespread issues in our communities?
2. Is Santa Claus real? Is there a place for Christmas in modern Australia?
Each student then delivered their prepared speeches, on a topic of their choice, which were as follows:
Jenna Kronk: the benefits of playing a musical instrument which can improve performance levels at school and the social benefits;
Ava Schultz: the corruption at the heart of true crime media, and the affects of the glamorisation of serial killers, particularly on young female viewers, in movies and television series on streaming services such as Netflix;
Keira Quinn: the importance of physical activity for youth, which promotes a healthy lifestyle, is an outlet for stress and builds friendships.
Will Collins: questioned society’s emphasis on student grades and assignments when many distinguished people throughout history have achieved great things without a university degree, or even finishing school. Students should be allowed to explore their interests with unbound curiosity, determination, spirit and courage;
Cooper Hutley: the ‘global public health problem’ that is youth violence.
This year, the judges awarded the Public Speaking Award to Will Collins, and the Lions Youth of the Year to Ava Schultz.
Mrs McIntyre encouraged the students to be bolder in the topic choices of their prepared speeches, and highlighted how the use of humour is a good tool for engaging an audience.
Ms Everingham’s advice to the students was to record their speeches, and practice their deliveries in front of a mirror, so they can see how they present.
“Remember that every-thing you are saying, your audience hasn’t heard before, so make sure you are well paced, have good breathing, and keep up your energy,” she said.
Mr Hoffmann encouraged the students to bring their personalities to their speech deliveries.
“It engages people and you’ll have more fun,” he said.
Mrs McIntyre made mention of Ms Quinn, who is the sixth and final member in her family to be in the program, bringing an end to her family’s participation in the special event.
Mr Evans lightened the mood throughout the evening with copious jokes.
Others in attendance were PSHS Principal Dan Norris, PSHS Chappie Ros Turner, the students’ families, and Pittsworth Lions.
For many, the most iconic public speaking event that comes to mind throughout the course of history is I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King Jr., whose charisma, skills in rhetoric and passion for his convictions, made his public speech so infamous.
