PRIMARY school students from across the region put their public speaking skills to the test when they participated in Lions Mad Minute Grand Challenge this week.
The Mad Minute competition tests students’ confidence and creativity through a one-minute speech on a topic randomly selected for them.
Lions Club of Mount Gambier member and competition judge Ross Parkinson said the students’ approach to the challenge was a credit to themselves.
“It would be pretty nerve-wracking for some of these children, but they handled it extremely well,” Mr Parkinson said.
“We thoroughly enjoy going and seeing these young people giving it a go because it’s actually inspiring.”
This year’s lower Limestone Coast competition was held at Mount Gambier High School’s Garry Costello Centre for Creative Arts.
Judges were pleased with the standard of the 45 participating students from 15 different schools, with a fine margin separating the top speakers.
“There are students who have just got a natural gift because they can present openly to a big audience and they just flow as if they have practiced it,” he said.
“The creativity and the sharpness of those brains is absolutely amazing, it blows you away.”
Mr Parkinson said the competition was one of the first introductions for children to public speaking.
He believes it will hold them in good stead for their future schooling and beyond.
“It is such an important skill to have and the earlier they develop it the better,” he said.
“Those skills and the confidence in themselves will serve them forever more.”
The challenge also gives judges, like Mr Parkinson a chance to learn and see the world from a different perspective.
“It’s interesting to hear it from the students’ perspective and how they relate the topics to their life,” Mr Parkinson said.
“You hear a lot of funny little things along the way.”
