2023 BAYSPEAK REPORT

The final of the Bayspeak competition was held last Wednesday, hosted by Firbank Grammar School. In total 38 students from 12 schools took part in Bayspeak 2023, with 12 students from 10 schools reaching the final. 

The winner in the Junior Section (Years 7 – 9) was Lia, representing St Leonard’s College. Kylie from Shelford Girls Grammar School was the runner-up. The winner of the Senior Section (Years 10-12) was Nathan, representing Brighton Secondary College. The runner-up was Richie, from St Leonard’s College. 

The winners of each section received cash prizes of $400, with $100 going to the runners-up. The winning schools received trophies that they will hold until next year’s competition. All the competitors received Certificates of Participation. The prizes, trophies and certificates were presented by Ian Slater of McDonald, Slater and Lay Barristers and Solicitors, who generously sponsored the competition. 

Janet Gray and other members of the Bayside branch of Toastmasters International were the adjudicators for the final as they have been for the three previous heats of the competition. Janet Gray described Bayspeak as a ‘fabulous competition’ and praised all the speakers for the way they had entertained and informed the audience, as well as the confidence & presentation skills they had displayed. 

Julie Avery from RC Brighton was the MC. Thanks also go to Phil Mortimer, from our Club, who was the photographer for the night. 

Bayspeak 2023 was organised and run by 5 Bayside Rotary Clubs: Brighton, Brighton North, Sandringham and Bentleigh Moorabbin Central

Junior finalists	Ian Slater with Junior winner Lia ( St Leonard's College)	Ian Slater with Nathan
Senior finalists	Toastmasters adjudicators team	Janet Gray Toastmasters

2021 FROM SOUTHERN CROSS WEEKLY

The final round of Rotary’s public speaking competition for secondary school students, ‘Bayspeak,’ was held at the Royal Brighton Yacht Club. In the Senior competition (Years 10 – 12) the successful finalist was Mia Eng (Firbank Grammar School); runner-up Caitlin O’Sullivan (St Leonard’s College). The winners received cash prizes of $400 each and the runners- up received $100 each.

Brighton Secondary College and Firbank Grammar School were awarded the inaugural school trophies which they will hold until the competition is held again in 2022.

The prizes were presented by Robert Ward, Past President of the Rotary Club of Brighton.

 The competition was adjudicated by Bayside Toastmasters, whose President, Janet Gray, congratulated the successful speakers on the passion and thought-out arguments displayed in their speeches. The last round of the competition had been repeatedly delayed by lockdowns but this did not diminish the enthusiasm of the participants or the high standard of their presentations. The event was chaired by Julie Avery, President of the Rotary Club of Brighton. Five schools competed in the final round:Brighton Secondary College, St Leonard’s College, Star of the Sea College, Firbank Grammar School and Mentone Girls’ Grammar School. The successful finalist from the Junior competition (Years 7 – 9) was Anastasia Zaytseva (Brighton Secondary College); runner- up Nathan Stanford (Brighton Secondary College). The Bayspeak Public Speaking Competition was organised by the Rotary Clubs of Brighton, Brighton North and Sandringham and sponsored by the Bendigo Bank, Church St. Brighton.

- Geoffrey Dobbs

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