Debating

On 30 July, five senior students in Years 10 to 12 made the long trip to Bacchus Marsh Grammar to represent College at ICCES debating. Going head-to-head with competitive metropolitan schools, the seniors pulled off a convincing defeat over Golden Valley Grammar School, and narrowly lost by one point to Girton Grammar. Lucas Barroso, Hannah Croft, Shavon Wong, Phoebe Baker and Bowen Brown should be proud of their efforts, and we look forward to seeing them compete in House debating on15 August! 

– Hannah Croft, Public Speaking and Debating Captain 

This year's 2024 Junior ICCES debate team undoubtedly exemplified what it means to persevere.

After experiencing debate workshops and hearing about the importance of public speaking, three courageous Year 7s; Leila Robertson, Poppy Malseed and Ebony Leishman willingly confronted the arduous task of competing against Year 9s for their first-ever formal debates at Bacchus Marsh.

Struggling to reach the five-minute individual talking time required in the first debate, each of the three speakers were unfortunately defeated.

Having lost due to not meeting the time limit and being stuck in a similar conundrum just two hours before their second debate, it is at moments such as these that people in similar shoes start thinking about giving up. To let the nerves get the better of you and just get it ‘over and done with’.

Instead, each student sat down alongside me and together we worked on formulating a well-developed, five-minute speech. Focusing on presenting the arguments emotively and with purpose each of the students prepared their speeches on why the Olympic games should not be stopped.

Despite the second speech sadly ending in another defeat, the loss was much closer, and their performances were substantially stronger than their first debate.

Displaying perseverance, adaptability, and a clear willingness to continue improving, the future of public speaking and debating is certainly in good hands, and the annual Bacchus Marsh debating competition better prepare to hand some silverware to our school in the years to come! 

– Lucas Barroso, Public Speaking and Debating Captain