Oratory at Trinity

The annual Oratory competion at Trinity College Colac was a showcase of speech-writing and public speaking and highlighted the impressive skills of our students from all years.

Topics selected by the students in the senior section included cancel culture, the Yes vote, climate change crisis, sex and identity change under the age of 16 and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice.

The senior students were allocated five to six minutes to deliver their speech, with the judges giving points for presentation, content and delivery.

It was a tight contest with exceptional talent but the judges' points were tipped in favour of Jorja, who spoke on the negative aspects of cancel culture. Congratulations to Jorja, and also to Paige, Riley and Isabella.

The intermediate category involved a speech of four to five minutes with talks on health insurance and health test results, genetic modification, suicide, cancel culture and bullying, the neurodiversity paradigm and why women deserve equal rights.

In the end it was the confidence and content from Jen in Year 10 that earned her first place, but once again the judges had a tough decision. Jen spoke about the ethics of health insurance companies and health rest results – well done to Jen and also Olivia, Hartly, Marissa, Sarah and Isabel.

The junior section was won by Audrey in Year 8 who spoke about the important topic of Equality. The speeches in this division were required to be between three to four minutes and included interesting opinions on whether money can buy happiness, what fashion reveals about your identity, war, the price of health care and why students shouldn't have to do homework. Congratulations to Audrey and also to Xantha, Matilda, Anastasia, Pippa and Beau.