Students shine in 82nd annual Purton Oratory competition

St Patrick’s College’s coveted Purton Oratory competition was held on Wednesday 30 August.

The annual event, now in its 82nd year, is the College’s premier public speaking and debating competition.

Twenty-eight students from Years 7-12 competed in six categories.

Head of drama Monique Allen described the event as a huge success.

“I continue to be amazed at the depth of thinking our bright public speaking students show,” she said.

This year’s event winners were:

Year 7-9 Ms. Mary Purcell debate – That students should be required to stay at school until the end of year 12.

Affirmative team: Finn Curran, Patrick Buttler & Archer Mohr.

Year 10-12 W. T. Doyle debate – That the economy is a poor measure of a nation’s success.

              Affirmative team: Alex Griffith, Nick Willis Pitt & Gabriel Galias

Years 7-9 Br. H. T Breach prepared speech

Riley Hayes: How big is big?

Years 7-9 Major Brian Broadribb Impromptu speech –

George Rogers: Be yourself, everyone else is taken.

Years 10-12 Br. D. G. Purton Oratory prepared speech –

Josh Retallick: The dangers of AI

Years 10-12 Sir Hugh Devine Impromptu speech –

Nick Willis Pitt: Technology is making the world a better place.

A highlight of this year’s event was the attendance of special guest Major Brian Broadribb, who the junior impromptu event is named after, and Old Collegian Allan McKinnon, who spoke to students about the importance of public speaking.

“A huge thank you to our adjudicators Trudi O’Callaghan abd Nathaniel Winfield for their detailed feedback to the students throughout the day,” Ms Allen said.

“Thank you to Sonya Roberts and the KRC team for all their support in setting up and hosting this event. A special thank you to Jacinta Reidy and Dirk Stickland for their support of the students throughout the year.”