If the past two years hadn’t been so difficult and life changing then we might be able to more easily sit and have a laugh about some of the strange changes and new ways we operate in our new Covid impacted world.
Bruce Argyle recently competed in the Area Toastmaster Speech Competition, winning with his speech entitled ‘Competing with Covid’.
Bruce gave the zoom audience many reasons to smile and laugh during his 7 minute speech as he proposed the establishment of the Covid Olympics.
This “pun-ishing” presentation started with the ‘germ of an idea’ that proved particularly contagious, going totally viral on Facebook and jabber!
Covid competition events ranged from the optional ‘shot’ put, through to 5k radius circle event to no touch rugby and the masked covid marathon (long covid).
It culminated in the invitation to enter local and regional competitions hosted by the IOCC (sic. International Oversight of Covid Committee) through their local IGA (‘Infectious Germs Administration’) which would see competitors having to empty the aisle of toilet paper upon utterance of the word ‘lockdown’.
Bruce’s speech formed part of the Humorous Speech Pathway, one of the many options available to members of Toastmasters and was not the first time he had put his toe in the water, having joined with other members of Healesville Toastmasters to host a Melbourne International Comedy Festival event at Memo Hall in successive years.
The content for these shows was taken from a series of ‘A Strange Business’ programs featured on Yarra Valley FM 99.1 over the past couple of years.
Twenty of these ‘pun-filled’ scripts are combined in a publication available in the next 3 months. In a John Clarke and Richard Dawes dialogue style, these programs are centred around the strangest of occupations and filled with puns and clever word usage.
Perhaps it is time for all of us to take life a little less seriously, laugh at ourselves and our circumstances much more and to put a smile on the faces of those we interact with on a daily basis. Your local toastmasters club can be a great starting point if you would like to develop your confidence in speaking, grow your word knowledge and your leadership skills.
Why not adopt a new pathway that ensures you will be having some fun, as well as learning some skills at the same time.
