TWO local students will head off to Launceston in a few months’ time to represent Hamilton and District Legacy, their school, and the state at the National Final Legacy Junior Public Speaking competition after taking out the top place at the state competition last week.
Portland Secondary College students and sisters, Daisy Bayona and Milly Bayona, were awarded first place and runner up respectively at the State Final Legacy Junior Public Speaking competition held in Ballarat on September 7.
The Victorian finals saw school students aged 12-14 from the south-west, including Ballarat and Warrnambool, present a five-minute prepared speech and a two-minute impromptu speech.
The girls are sharing the accolades after Milly was awarded first place and Daisy third place at the Hamilton and District Legacy Junior Public Speaking competition held earlier this year.
It is the first time in the competition’s 33-year history that two students from the same school have been selected to represent their state in the National Final – making the Bayona sisters record breakers.
Portland Secondary College public speaking coach, Liz Paulet, said the school was “very excited” to have both girls continue on and participate in the National competition.
“There’s no doubt we are very proud of the girl’s achievements,” she said.
“At Portland Secondary College we’re trying to reinvigorate the public speaking program and to have some success like this really promotes that.
“It’s great to put a regional place on the map.”
Ms Paulet said both Daisy and Millie had participated in the Rostrum Voice of Youth events in June, where Daisy was the junior winner and Millie was the senior runner up, with Daisy going on to participate in the State Final.
Ms Paulet said it was inspiring to watch the girls dedicate their time to improving their public speaking skills and building their confidence.
“They’ve given up their recesses, their lunchtimes, their evenings, to research, to write and to practise,” she said.
“In our view, the ability to speak well is a life skill so by them participating in these events they are setting themselves up for a fabulous future in whatever they do.
“This is special.”
The other two finalists from the Hamilton and District Legacy Junior Public Speaking competition who participated in the state competition were Monivae College student, Shannon Mhasho, and Bayview College Portland student, Rose Dainty, who both performed extremely well, with the judges encouraging Shannon to enter next year as her age allows it.
Hamilton and District Legacy convenor, John Graham, said he was blown away by the achievements of all four participants.
“Hamilton Legacy are so proud of all the students who enter our competition and we wish Daisy and Milly well for the final in Launceston, we know that they will do their state, school and Legacy proud,” he said.
All four participants were fully sponsored by Legacy for the event.
The competition is designed to enhance participants’ oral communication and public speaking skills, while helping them appreciate the ideals of Legacy - voluntary service, caring, comradeship, and the need for remembrance.
It encourages students to share their views on voluntary and personal effort/sacrifice, care and compassion and the importance of remembrance.
Both Milly and Daisy Bayona will travel to Launceston to compete in the National competition on November 14.