Speech & Leadership Contest
The event was inaugurated in Western Australia in 1968 as a speech contest for senior High school students. Subsequently, it attracted the interest of the former State Governor and Chief Justice, Sir Francis Burt who became personally involved, and became a keen supporter of the contest.
The original speech contest had two purposes:
- to encourage among young people a high standard in the command and use of English, the common working language and one of the great assets of the Commonwealth of Nations,
- to encourage young people to become more informed about the Commonwealth and its people.
Later, in the 1970s, the contest was extended to include a search for leadership qualities and this dual purpose, to the best of the Society’s knowledge, renders the contest unique and led to the patronage consent by the late Sir Francis Burt.
Venue for the Contest
Unless otherwise advertised the venue for the adjudications and interviews will be in the rooms adjacent to the RCS WA Branch offices in the administration building at the RAAF Association, Air Force Memorial Estate, Bull Creek Drive, Bull Creek, WA.
To date, all applicants have been accepted, and as many sessions as necessary are conducted to achieve six finalists and a reserve, from which a winner is selected.
President Terry Spiro and Vice Patron Dr Ken Michael, AC
with, Senior Division Winners, at centre, with Adjudicators.
Dr Ken Michael AC, Former WA Governor and RCSWA Vice Patron.
Previous years, finalists and winners of the Contest have emerged as community leaders, in their chosen career paths, as evidenced by the following.
Dean of St George’s Anglican cathedral, Perth Diocese
Fellow and Lecturer in Law at Trinity College, at Cambridge University, UK.
Commissioner, Department of Fire and Emergency Services
Partner in a major Perth Law Firm
Journalist for a Western Australian media company
News Reporter for a Western Australian broadcaster
Appointment to the Rostrum Honour Roll
Executive at the Globalism Research centre
At any one time many of the finalists are undertaking studies in professional degree courses in Law, Medicine, Economics, Engineering, Science, Teaching and other professions.
