The Year 11 student from St Mary’s College was one of 11 students to compete in the quest on Wednesday night. Angus Taylor named runner-up Lions Youth of the Year.

Stephanie beat out St Mary's students Angus Taylor, Bella Gallagher and Bayley Williams, and Gunnedah High School students Lucy Moore and Ashleigh Mills to win the public speaking section of the competition. Bella was runner-up.

The students delivered two impromptu speeches and one prepared speech, with topics ranging from suicide culture and cyber-bullying to role models and drug cheats in sport. 

St Mary’s said all the students spoke “eloquently and confidently and were a credit to their school”.

Stephanie said she was surprised to win the local round of the quest.

“I thought Angus had it in the bag,” she said.

Stephanie said it was her second taste of public speaking this year after she participated in a Rotary Club competition in Coonabarabran earlier this term.

“[Public speaking] terrifies me but I’ve always been somewhat good at it,” Stephanie said.

“I just have a knack for talking.”

Stephanie’s prepared speech centred around role models in sport and her impromptu speeches covered the judicial system and what facilities were needed in Gunnedah.

St Mary’s students Carter Cameron, Connor Phillips, Angus Taylor and Arielle Worthington, and Gunnedah High School students Desmond Tuckerman, Cameron Gale were among those who made it to the interview stage of the competition.

The interview included questions about their cultural, sporting and academic interests and achievements. They were also asked to respond to a number of current news issues.

Stephanie will compete in the zone round of the youth competition in March 2019.

The Year 11 student said she was “a bit nervous” about the next round because she would be competing against “kids who do public speaking on a regional level”.

Stephanie said she will prepare by practising impromptu speeches “because you can never pick the topics”.

The teenager said participating in the Lions quest was a good way to develop skills.

“It helps you with speaking skills you need later on in life and with jobs,” she said.

“I want to be a physio so I need to be able to speak to patients.”