THE 2008 SPEECH COMPETITION - AUSTRALIA HERE I COME!
This is the twelfth year of the running of this very successful and prestigious competition for schools in Southern Gauteng. The winner wins a trip to Australia where they are hosted and entertained by Rotarians. From the 150 schools invited to send their champion, 65 did so and after the elimination rounds, 12 speakers came forward to the finals.  From back left:

Sanjula Pillay (Roosevelt) 

Thandiela Goldman (Ho«rskool Linden)

Simone Schafer (Jeppe Girls)

Luke Worster (Jeppe Boys)

Tshegofatso Nyoka (Midrand)

Tiago Soares (St Benedict's)

Brendan Ward (St Dunstan's) 

Laeeqa Jakee (Parktown Girls)

Bernard Maseko (Highlands North)

Jenna Fulcher (Bryanston) 

Deepshika Hariparsad (Roedean) 

Chantelle Scrutton (Brescia House)

Each speaker was required to present a five minute speech on a book title of their choice, and this was followed by a three minute unprepared speech based on one of three topics, given ten minutes only to prepare. These topics all related to quotations by Nelson Mandela, Oprah Winfrey and Albert Einstein all relating to service.

 

The adjudicator for the evening was Celeste de Lange from the Speech and Drama College of South Africa pictured here on the left with the 2008 winner Chantelle Scrutton from Brescia House in Sandton, and Di Kershaw, the president of the Rotary Club of Sandton and organiser-in-chief of the competition. Pictured also with Chantelle are runner-up Deepshika Hariparsad (Roedean) and third-placed Brendan Ward (St Dunstan's).
Chantelle wins a 4-week trip to Australia where she will be hosted by Rotarians in Melbourne and surrounds - an adventure of a lifetime. She also received R3000 pocket money and all twelve finalists will be sponsored for a weekend of self-discovery and development by the Pacific Institute who were represented at the finals by Peter Holmes.
Bon Voyage Chantelle!