PUBLIC speaking isn't for everyone, but while some people cringe at the thought of having to get up in front of a crowd and be the centre of attention, others thrive on it.
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Some of those people love the limelight, some just enjoy talking about themselves, but it takes someone with a special amount of confidence to actually put their hand up and want to be judged on what they say and how they say it.
As it turns out, there's quite a few of those in schools throughout Gunnedah and the surrounding areas - and they're very good at it too.
On Thursday, February 4, Gunnedah West Rotary Club hosted the district public speaking competition at the golf club, which was attended by students from throughout the region.
In the end, it was St Mary's Imogen Taylor and Gunnedah High School's Lachlan Moore that moved through to the semi-final, which will be held in Quirindi later this month.
Gunnedah West Rotary youth director Ken Walls believes the quality of contestants this year is among the finest he has seen.
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"This group I think is probably one of the stronger groups of public speakers we've seen for quite a few years," he said.
"Of the seven young people who we had - three from Gunnedah High, three from St Mary's and one from Coonabarabran High - the quality of speaking was outstanding.
"The topics showed a lot of maturity, their delivery of their speeches and their knowledge of their topics was great and they all presented really well."
Should either Ms Taylor or Mr Moore make it past the next round, they will be one of two representatives from the inland 9650 division selected to take on competitors on the coast, in a final that will be held in Port Macquarie in March.
However, while winning is a nice feeling, Mr Walls said it is the skills they learn which will be the longest-serving reward.
"The aim of the competition is to get young people involved in public speaking and developing skills of public speaking that will help them in future life in future careers," he stated.
Here are the topics the contestants took on:
Jack Trappel (Gunnedah West Rotary) - Burkina Faso and the importance of humanitarian organisations; Shania Bakker (Gunnedah Rotary) - The benefits of playing a musical instrument; Lachlan Moore (Gunnedah West Rotary) - Cuts to Australia's aid budget; Lachlan Eshman (Coonabarabran Rotary) - Infodemics of the modern world; Aiden R De Luzuriaga (Gunnedah Rotary 2380) - The state of Sino-Australian relations; Imogen Taylor (Gunnedah Rotary Club) - How our use of social media would improve with an application of the Rotary 4 way test; Hugh Taylor (Boggabri rotary club) - Is school over institutionalised.
