Twenty-four countries were represented at the annual Rotary Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) in Gunnedah on the weekend.
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About 50 students from 13 schools, including Gunnedah High School and Quirindi High School, wore cultural dress and even tried out different accents at the simulated United Nations (UN) assembly.
Students from as far as Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie represented UN countries and debated topical issues, with St Columba Anglican School (Scotland) winning best team.
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Gunnedah High School's team represented China, and Quirindi High School's teams represented Spain, Saudi Arabia and Jamaica. Maddie Hearn and Grace Pezzuto from Quirindi (Spain) won best decorated table, and Aleda Clemens from Inverell won best speaker.
Gunnedah Rotary 2380's Pat Walls said students gained a lot from the experience.
"It's an opportunity to get to know other people of their age, so there's the social aspect of it," Mrs Walls said.
"It gives them confidence in being able to speak in front of a crowd; for some of them it was the first time they had to get up and express their views in front of [around 80 people].
"It [improves] their public speaking skills and therefore their self-confidence."
While there was plenty of learning, there was also plenty of fun.
"There was lots of bribing going on to form alliances," Mrs Walls said.
"There was a lot of laughter and happiness going on.
"On Saturday night they were telling me about all the Snapchat accounts that have been set up so I guess that's one way of guessing they enjoyed themselves."
Gunnedah's three Rotary clubs, Boggabri Rotary Club, and Coonabarabran Rotary Club ran the event. Gunnedah Youth Council was also on hand to help.