A highlight of the section each year is Speak Off, a public speaking competition between St Mary’s College and Gunnedah High School. 

Topics ranged from the faults of Donald Trump to the serious issue of child marriage, and the influence of media and marketing on body image. 

St Mary’s won each year level competition and gained the highest total point score. 

Convenor Jenny Darley said the speech and drama section was “very successful” this year and ran “smoothly”.

“Our highlight was probably the public speaking section and we had an influx of people coming from out of town, including Coonabarabran [Public School],” she said.

“In the speech and drama section, I had around 330 entries.

“It was just very well supported and as a convenor, I really support the efforts that the schools put into it because it is an extra effort for the teacher.

“Without the support of teachers, the eisteddfod doesn’t exist.”