Debating
April 2023
An Update on Debating......
The enthusiasm for debating at Mullauna has never been higher than in these first two rounds of the 2023 DAV Interschool Debating Competition (Ringwood region) season. We have teams up in every Grade for 2023. All teams, except our seasoned debaters in Grade A team (Year 12), were performing in their first interschool debate. The support from parents, and the exceptionally high standard of team work amongst our students, sees debating flourishing at Mullauna College. We congratulate Casper Potgieter-Strachan who is our 2023 Debate Captain.
In Round One:
The A Grade team, comprising Matilda Ridgeway, Alex Sayle and Andrew Fankhauser,
argued the topic: ‘That Australia should not provide military support to foreign conflicts.’ Mullauna took the affirmative stance and had a convincing win against Mount Lilydale Mercy College. Andrew Fankhauser was awarded best speaker.
B
In B Grade, our debaters Lauren Baker, Nooshin Khaleghi Sohi and Jeseca Goda, competed against Yarra Valley Grammar School and argued the affirmative position
on the topic: ‘That we should implement a maximum
wage.’ The team delivered compelling arguments and defeated Whitefriars College. Lauren Baker was
awarded best speaker.
In Grade C, the team of Bryn Norris, Angus Pappas
and Sarah Porter, debated the topic:
‘That compulsory voting should be abolished in Australia’ and took the affirmative stance. The team presented powerful points and argued well, but were narrowly defeated by the Whitefriars College team.
The D Grade team won the debate against Whitefriars College arguing the affirmative on the topic: ‘That it
should be compulsory for students to partake in extracurricular activities’. Team members Caitlin Fankhauser, Scarlett Scott and Floyd Dahmen gave calm, ordered and convincing arguments, with Scarlett Scott awarded best speaker.
In Round 2 (last night):
The Grade A team were awarded a win after the Tintern Grammar team forfeited. Our team of Casper Potgieter-Strachan, Andrew Fankhauser and Alex Sayle were well prepared to argue the negative stance on the topic: ‘That we regret the rise of artificial intelligence.’
The Grade B team delivered a very high standard debate across the criteria of manner, method and matter arguing the negative on the topic: ‘That we should ban political donations’, but after a valiant battle, the debate was narrowly won by Yarra Valley Grammar.
The Grade C team, with two new team members, presented strong arguments against the
topic: ‘That students should have to complete compulsory volunteering hours every year.’ Leroy Szabo, Bryn Norris and Jasmine Armistead spoke with great clarity and consideration, but Yarra Valley Grammar narrowly won.
The Grade D team was also new this round, and argued exceptionally well, speaking with much aplomb, for the negative side on the topic: ‘That we should ban uranium mining in Australia’. They were very narrowly defeated by the Yarra Valley Grammar team, all having presented a high-quality debate.
A special thank you to my fellow coaches: Wayne Howell, who supported the B and C Grade students, and Alister Graham, our new coach who mentored the D Grade team, both of whom attended the evening debates.
Tamsin Davidson
Debating coach and coordinator
Head of the English Faculty