Saturday March 8 saw five fantastic young people make their debut in the public speaking arena. Local lass Crystal Cooper and Richard (Ross) Jane from Warialda competed in the Regional Finals of the Lions Youth of The Year Awards. Students from Tamworth, Kootingal and Quirindi participated in gruelling impromptu questioning from Judges Elizabeth Lloyd, Linda McDouall and Rev Kevin Hanson.
Judge Linda McDouall, Judge Rev. Kevin Hanson, Kaitlin Mannion, Phillipa Wells, Winner Veronica O’Mara, Winner of Public Speaking Award Richard Jane, Crystal Cooper, Judge Elizabeth Lloyd and President Lion Tex Wright
After giving very credible performances the students each gave a five minute prepared speech on a subject of their own choosing. As the friends, family and support groups listened to what was a magnificent collection of young thoughts and ideas it was hard to guess who would come out a clear winner.
Head Judge Elizabeth said “ It was so close, too close to call an outright leader. We had to go back to the earlier interviews to see who would walk away with the award it was that hard”. Richard Jane from Warialda High school was awarded the Public Speaker of the Year certificate.
Richard gave a smashing rhetoric on “spying and is it a good or bad thing”. It was clearly good for Richard and he was very pleased to win this category. Veronica O’Mara, sponsored by Peel Valley Lions Club, won Youth of the Year and was congratulated by the Judges for her overall performance on the night.
“ It was very hard to stop shaking” said Veronica after all the photos were taken and congratulations delivered by all who attended.
The other contestants all did such a great job and we believe that next year they will be hard to beat. Bingara Lions Hosted the night at the Roxy Theatre and the students from Bingara Central school served a wonderful meal cooked by the Sportsman’s Hotel staff in the new Roxy Kitchen facility.
All honorary guests thought the facilities and the professionalism of the organisation was one to be applauded. Bingara certainly knows how to impress with these wonderful venues to host our events. Thank you to Martin Hansford and Georgia Standerwick who put so much time into preparing the Roxy for this night and to all who attended, it was truly a showcase event for us all.
