Cultural

Debaters Let Their Light Shine

The debating season this year was postponed, as with most co-curricular programs, due to COVID-19 and social restrictions. Our debates this year look and feel different to previous years – no gatherings, no suppers, no handshakes, no spectators.

While our season is not yet over, I felt it was important to highlight the outstanding performance of our debaters and coaches last week. Last Friday, debates were conducted via Zoom with Good Samaritan College, Hinchinbrook. With Hinchinbrook in a hotspot, several of their teams had already pulled out of the competition and we had a late forfeit Friday afternoon from their Year 8 team. It was cold and rainy, the logistics of the technology were awkward and half of the boys had no formal debates scheduled.

To the credit of all, the boys were brilliant. Those not debating were organised into informal social debates. Those debating were patient with the technology and adapted to not having an audience and presenting to a screen. The Old Boy coaches Ed and Chris made a food run for the juniors to grab some fish and chips from Mary’s at Homebush, and Mrs Chander, Ms Capobianco and Ms Knapman were tireless in running around, sorting, supporting and checking in on me and the boys. Mr Maurency stayed back until 5.30pm to ensure the computing requirements were working well. And the Year 11 debaters, who have not had any CSDA competition in this strange year, turned up in force, demonstrating enthusiasm and grace and leadership, while the remaining Year 12’s came straight from their trial Modern History exam to support their peers and the team as a whole.

We had two of five wins on the night, or seven of ten with the forfeits, but more importantly our students and coaches truly let their light shine through their behaviour, their camaraderie, their presence and their good spirits. Well done! So proud of you all!

Denise Lombardo

MIC Public Speaking and Debating