The Australian Defence Force Academy
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Lions Oratory Competition
By Cavin Wilson
18 Septemer 2008
The Lions club of Belconnen has had a long and distinguished involvement with the Australian Defence Force Academy, an involvement that is most notable in their support of the ADFA Lions Oratory competition. Now in its twelfth year, the Lions Oratory competition gives Midshipmen and Officer Cadets at ADFA a chance to demonstrate their public speaking prowess, requiring competitors to deliver a ten minute oration from memory on a public figure whom they believes best exemplifies the Lions Club values of love, peace, truth, righteousness and non-violence.
In 2008, entrants from all years spoke about a range of interesting and nuanced characters; from Oscar Schindler to Mother Terrese and from Mahatma Gandhi to Jimi Hendrix, with each competitor displaying an impressive degree of poise, composure and eloquence in their expression and delivery.
Of all the entrants, six were chosen to present their orations once again before a distinguished panel of judges and an audience numbering in excess of 150. With the pressure on and prize-money at stake, the tension was high as each competitor rose to deliver their speech, each hoping that they would not stumble over their words or forget their lines.
By the adjudicator’s own admission, the competition was incredibly tight with precious little separating the speakers. After much deliberation, first prize was taken by OFFCDT Cavin Wilson, second by OCDT Caitlin Holcombe and third by OFFCDT Bianca May with honorable mentions going to OCDTs Kristen Von Saldern and Denna Fryer and OFFCDT Nathan Schubert.
