Wingham High School captain Stephen Smith has started 2019 on a high.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Not one week after being named the Lions Club of Taree Youth of the Year, the year 12 student won the semi finals of the Rotary District 9650 Public Speaking competition at Walcha.
District 9650 comprises 57 Rotary Clubs from Coffs Harbour, north west to Lightning Ridge, south to Coonabarabran, and across to Forster.
To make it to the semi finals, Stephen first had to win a public speaking competition within the local Rotary clubs of the Manning and Great Lakes region.
Related content: Captain Steve takes helm of Young Endeavour
Speakers at the District 9650 competition were required to present a five minute prepared talk, and a two minute impromptu talk.
Stephen, who is planning on entering the armed forces when he leaves school, gave his prepared speech on the military and the Invicitus Games. The topic for the impromptu speech was the speaker's ideas and expectations for the future.
"Stephen's speech was about fair dealings with other countries and people generally. Being caring for people, that’s what he’d like to see. And equality. He also said it would be good to eliminate wars," said Ron Hindmarsh, Wingham Rotary Club's youth director, who was at the semi finals along with Wingham Rotary president John Dorrington and community director Bob Clarke.
We're looking at a future governor general.
- Ron Hindmarsh, youth director Wingham Rotary Club
Also in Walcha to support Stephen were "10 to 12" members of his family, and Wingham High School English teach Gary Dunbier and his wife Debbie.
Ron said Stephen showed great presence while he was speaking.
"We're looking at a future governor general," Ron believes.
As a result of his semi-final win, Stephen went on to compete against the same people in the grand finals at the District Conference in Armidale on Saturday, March 9.
Unfortunately Stephen did not win the grand final.
Julia Driscoll
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
