Geraldton Grammar School hosts State final of Rotary Four-Way Test public speaking competition for Year 10s

Geraldton Grammar School hosted the State final of the Rotary Four-Way Test public speaking competition earlier this month. Perth Modern student Diya Sanjay swept up the major trophies of the event, as four finalists from Perth joined Mid West finalist Aaysha King in the annual competition for Year 10 students. Diya’s topic was care for dementia patients and earned the nod from the adjudicators, with St George’s Anglican Grammar School student Izabella Kodituwakku finishing runner-up in a tight final with her speech on media and the illusion of truth. Geraldton Grammar School’s Aaysha, whose topic was social contagion: how media affects adolescent behaviour, rounded out the top three. Other finalists were Jarrah Swan of St Norbert’s College, who spoke about microplastics in the food chain, and Tex Gulloto of Churchlands Senior High School, whose subject was the problem with plastic. The crowd was treated to a brilliant speech by the Year 6 State winner, 11-year-old Raphael Salman of Wembley Primary School, on the topic of maths. Fred Marsh, 97, a former Rotary district governor — whose grandfather arrived in Geraldton in 1868 — was on hand to present the trophies at the event he started in 1989. He said the quality of the speeches was the highest he had heard. Current Rotary district governor Veronica Lawrance also presented at the event. Rotary Club of Greater Geraldton president Hugh Lavery said it was a privilege to host the final, with so many people travelling from Perth for the occasion. “The audience was treated to a wonderful display of youthful enthusiasm and terrific speaking, which bodes well for the future of our country,” he said.