Gunnedah High School and St Mary's College pitted their skills of persuasion against one another in an inter-school debate on Wednesday.
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The event is part of Gunnedah's Youth Week program and saw 15 students from Years 7-10 go head-to-head at the Smithurst Theatre over the shire's environment and the earth's future.
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In debate one, Years 7-8 debated the statement, 'The Gunnedah shire is a youth-friendly place to live', with St Mary's College declared the winner after foiling Gunnedah High School's affirmative side.
In debate two, Gunnedah High School turned the tables, beating out St Mary's when it argued against the statement, 'the future looks bright'.
With one win going to each school, a draw was called at the end of the event, which was adjudicated by Gunnedah councillor Owen Hasler.
Gunnedah Shire Council's youth development officer Sewa Emojong facilitated the debate and said the students were given the statements a few week's before the event, but the affirmative and negative sides weren't drawn until Monday.
"We were trying to challenge them to research both sides of the story and really hone in on their argument once they knew whether they were for or against the statements," she said.
"It's good for them to be challenged to think differently, to look at the different aspects to the question."
Youth Week
Gunnedah's Youth Week was kick-started by the annual Youth Expo in the town hall on Tuesday.
On Thursday, Backtrack Boys will be screened at The Civic at 6pm, followed by a Q&A session.
On April 15, Gunnedah Youth Council's Drought Relief Short Film Competition will hit the big screen at the town hall from 6pm. Entry is $10, with all profits to be donated to Buy-A-Bale.
A Youth Leading the World Community Forum is earmarked for April 16 and on April 17, there will be pushy races from 10am at the Gunnedah Go-Kart Track on Mullaley Road. Entry is $5 for ages 5-25 years.
Beats, Bass and Basketball will be back again on April 17 at the Judi Guest Basketball Stadium from 6pm. The next day there will be a Great Gunnedah Scavenger Hunt from 10am at Kitchener Park.
The last event on the calendar, on April 18, is a Nineties to Now Trivia Night at the town hall from 6pm. Cost is $5 per person or $30 for a team.
A full Youth Week program can be found at www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au
