Student Achievement

Celebrating the Inaugural Public Speaking Competition

On Friday, November 8, McCarthy Catholic College proudly hosted the inaugural Public Speaking Competition, a landmark event bringing together students from seven schools across the region: Calrossy, Farrer, Carinya, The Armidale School, St Mary’s Gunnedah, O’Connor Catholic College Armidale, and McCarthy Catholic College. 

This exciting competition celebrated the talent, creativity, and confidence of the next generation of speakers. 

Students from Years 7–10 competed in two categories: Stage 4 (Years 7 and 8) and Stage 5 (Years 9 and 10). Each participant delivered a prepared speech on a topic of their choice, followed by an impromptu speech where they crafted a response to a surprise topic with just minutes to prepare. This format challenged their creativity and quick thinking, essential skills for success in today’s fast-paced world. 

Representing Stage 4 with poise and passion were Eve Simpson (Year 7) and Bronte Rankmore (Year 8), each delivering outstanding speeches. Eve’s exceptional performance earned her the well-deserved runner-up prize for the Stage 4 division. In the Stage 5 competition, Sanza Arzal and Georgia Errington from Year 9 brought their A-game, showcasing creativity and confidence. Sanza’s articulate delivery and quick thinking secured her the runner-up title in her division, a fantastic achievement in a highly competitive field. Congratulations to all four speakers for their hard work, dedication, and impressive accomplishments! 

A special mention to Jackson Medlock, Molly Taylor and Harper Ryman who were integral to the success of the day by fulfilling their roles as time keepers and chairpersons.

The event was adjudicated by a distinguished panel. Stage 5 speeches were evaluated by The Honorable Kevin Anderson, Business Consultant Patrick Carr, and Year 12 student Alistair Scott from Calrossy, who recently completed his HSC. Stage 4 speeches were assessed by NBN journalist Gabi Warner and McCarthy English teacher Rebecca Hannan.

Public speaking is a vital skill that fosters confidence, critical thinking, and effective communication. The competition provided a platform for students to develop and show case these abilities, setting the stage for their future success in academic and professional endeavors. A heartfelt thank you goes to our generous sponsors—Tamworth Shopping World, Escape Rooms Tamworth, Sonny’s Bakery and Café, and Forum 6 Cinemas Tamworth. Their support reflects the community’s dedication to encouraging and celebrating our youth. We commend all the students who participated for their hard work, courage, and passion. The talent displayed by these young speakers was truly inspiring, and we look forward to seeing their continued growth and success in the years to come!