THE Wingham Probus Club and Wingham High School have a decade-history of fierce head to head battle in their annual debates, and this years, the 10th annual debate, held true to tradition.
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The subject this time around was 'Globalisation is good for us' with Wingham High School arguing for the affirmative.
Gary Dunbier, English teacher at Wingham High School and adjudicator for the debate, had as many dishonourable mentions as honourable ones to dish out at the end.
Mr Dunbier started his comments by thanking the Probus Club and said it was an enjoyable experience every year.
He gave both teams a dishonourable mention as while the rules of debating state that speakers must stick to the topic and deliver no under-the-belt blows, in the spirit of the Probus/Wingham High debates, there was "not enough dirty play."
Year seven student Georgia Hudson was first to speak and started the debate strongly with convincing arguments on so many points it made the adjudicator's head spin.
Mr Dunbier gave the concluding speaker for the school, year seven student Jim Byrne, an honourable mention for getting in lots of low hits, and congratulated him for "warming very quickly into the spirit of the debate".
He praised young Mr Byrne's intellect and said "I really, really enjoyed this speech, and I finally got a positive out of Princess Dianna's death", alluding to Jim Byrne's point reproduced below:
"The story of globalisation is exemplified in Princess Di's death. An English princess with an Egyptian boyfriend in a German car with a Dutch engine, driven by a Belgian drunk on Scotch whiskey, followed closely by Italian paparazzi on Japanese motorcycles, treated by an American doctor using Brazilian medication," a story that had the room howling with laughter.
Jim Byrne also snuck in a Monty Python reference when referring to the Judean People's Front, a reference that perhaps was not picked up by all listening.
However, Jim was also given the biggest dishonourable mention of the day "for reminding us of Tony Abbott's budgie smugglers". This was balanced out by an honourable mention for Jim's remark about the negative team's need for Aldi walking frames.
The Probus team also came in for many honourable mentions, particularly for their skilful use of combining intellectual and emotional arguments, Jana Sadlick's foreign accent, their use of familiar phrasing and old truths, and concluding speaker Phil Nelson's fluency and entertainment value.
In the end, Probus came out the winners, taking the score to six wins for Probus, and four for Wingham High School.
Keith Bedggood, debate chairman, concluded the event by thanking the teams. "They gave us a lot of fun. They made us all laugh and gave us something to think about," he said. "We treat this as one of the most valuable parts of our year's entertainment."
Mr Bedggood concluded by praising the students. "There is such talent among the students of schools in our district. It's due to their innate capacity, but they are also well guided by people like Gary."
Our verdict: The Probus Club should sell tickets to this annual event and make money. It is a highly entertaining and funny experience.