Debating
Round Four
The final round of DAV competition for 2017 was held on the 2 August at Brighton Grammar. The St Bede’s College Debating Squad, came away with four wins from seven debates across a closely contested round. Congratulations to our B Grade team who won all of their debates for the season, and finished equal top of the Bayside ladder with St Leonard’s; they will progress to State Final Play Offs. Topics for this final debate were challenging, with B Grade arguing that the employers should not be able to access the criminal records of job applicants, whilst D grade grappled with the issue that museums should offer to return historical objects to their country of origin.
Results:
B Grade: Jeremy Mann, Dillon Bulman and Edward McGarry, defeated St Leonard’s College 4 by two points. Best Speaker awarded to Dillon Bulman. An excellent finish to the Bayside competition by this newly formed and highly dedicated team, equal top place.
D Grade:
SBC 1: Jasper Hattam, Damon Kelly and Jacob Legge, defeated by St Leonard’s College 4 by one point. A one point loss for this new team does not tarnish the solid season they have had, congratulations boys on a fine effort, finishing eighth out of thirty teams.
SBC 2: Elijah Barrett, Flynn Morley and Liam Collins, defeated St Leonard’s 3, by one point. Well done to this team on a return to the winner’s circle; they work tremendously well together and always bring their best to each debate, winning four from five for the season and finishing seventh out of thirty teams. Best Speaker awarded to Flynn Morley.
SBC 3: Jacob Barry, Will Devlin and Jack Pooley, defeated Kostka 3. An excellent effort from these debaters who work tirelessly to prepare each round and continued their winning streak in the second half of the season, finishing nineteenth out of thirty teams. Well done everyone! Best Speaker awarded to Will Devlin.
SBC 4: Sam Gough, Conor Mooney, Sebastien Mooney, defeated by Sandringham College 1, by two points. A competitive effort from this team in their first year at DAV, well done to you all, you have finished the season with a new skill set, firm confidence and much potential to keep developing, finishing seventeenth out of thirty teams.
SBC 5: Sam Murray, Jack Dawson and Blake Wilden, defeated St Leonard’s 2, by one point. All three team members scored equally, reflecting a joint effort across all criteria – well done boys, finishing thirteenth out of thirty teams.
SBC 6: Elijah McEvoy, Lachlan Doyle, Tomas Cooling and Ben Martinelli, defeated by Albert Park 2, by two points. Whilst this loss was disappointing, ending an unbroken winning record, this new team for 2017 has found a winning combination to move into next year with. The youngest debaters in the 2017 squad, but amongst the most talented and committed St Bede’s College has had in recent times finishing third out of thirty teams.
At the time of writing, St Bede’s College B Grade team carry our College name into the next stage of proceedings. Congratulations on a stellar season Jeremy, Dillon and Edward, and the very best of luck to you all for finals.
Thank you to the staff mentors who have so generously given of their time and their talents in 2017, it would have been impossible to have run so many teams in DAV without them: Carl De Souza, Michael Moses, Sally Spencer, Laura Matthews and Br Doug O’Reilly. Finally, thank you to all of our wonderful Beda parents who come out to support the teams each round and encourage the students on their continued efforts – we all appreciate it.
Kaylene Menara
Debating Coordinator 2017