By Casey Neill
“This talent can lead this country.”
Rotary Club of Healesville president Sam Halim was speaking about three local primary school students when he made this remark at the club’s Thursday 5 September meeting.
“We have a very good future with this talent,” he said.
The trio were the finalists in the club’s annual speech contest for Grade 5 and 6 students in the Healesville district, held in conjunction with Toastmasters Australia.
Schools from Healesville, Dixons Creek, Don Valley, Toolangi, Woori Yallock and Yarra Glen received an invitation to participate.
Students could choose from topics that included the most amazing person they knew, what cows thought about, and if they ruled the world.
They competed at the performing arts centre auditorium at Healesville High School on Wednesday 21 August.
The three finalists spoke again at the Rotary meeting at Sanctuary House Resort and Motel, and received certificates and medals.
First-placed Frankie-Ella Taylor will progress to the next Toastmasters round thanks to her emotive speech about the plight of Syrian refugees.
The Woori Yallock Primary School Grade 5 student described them being thrown in detention centres and held like prisoners.
“Our government does not care,” she said.
“We need to speak up for those who don’t have a voice.
“We need to close detention centres now.”
Her win earned Woori Yallock Primary the perpetual trophy for the sixth consecutive year.
Her classmate William Plant-Buttle took second place with his stirring speech about cigarettes.
He told the meeting that he’d get rid of every last one if he ruled the world.
“Smoking is addictive and you can die from it,” he said.
“Nothing is good about smoking.”
William revealed that his dad was “a prisoner of smoking” and issued a warning for other parents.
“If your son sees you smoking, he wants to be like you,” he said.
In third place was Anna Wilson from Don Valley Primary, who had the audience giggling with her entertaining presentation about what she’d use three wishes for – a servant robot, a magic food box and a teleporting watch.
