The Bear Pit Public Speaking Competition

On December 2nd, 2024, Lenita Taylor Soto and Jesse Singh from Year 9 joined other contestants from schools in the local area to compete in the inaugural Bear Pit Public Speaking Competition hosted by the member for Drummoyne and Temporary Speaker, Stephanie Di Pasqua, in the NSW Parliament. Drummoyne is the state electorate in which our college falls and the “Bear Pit” is the century-old nickname for the NSW Legislative Assembly. Adding to the prestige of the event, the competition took place on the floor of the Legislative Assembly, with the participants occupying the government frontbench and Ms Di Pasqua the Speaker’s chair. Parents, grandparents and teachers occupied other benches in the chamber.

Before the competition proper began an attendant from the Assembly provided a brief history of the Assembly and the Speaker, Greg Piper, popped in to offer some tips and words of encouragement.

Lenita chose leadership as her topic and drew most effectively on her own recent experience of becoming a peer support volunteer to illustrate her ideas. Among the qualities she mentioned was a leader’s capacity to listen and, indeed, to follow – in the best sense. Jesse mused about whether AI was friend or foe. Both spoke eloquently.

To complete the event, afternoon tea was served in the Speaker’s Garden.

Thank you to Mr Douglas for tutoring the students so ably and for accompanying them to the event.