Fifty talented high school students showcased their public speaking prowess at the Soroptimist International Public Speaking Competition, held on Saturday, September 21, as part of The Hills Shire Council's annual Orange Blossom Festival.
Competitors hailed from 11 schools across the local community, including Castle Hill High School, Galston High School, Carlingford High School, Northholm College, William Clarke College, and James Ruse Agricultural High School.
Each student took the stage to deliver compelling speeches on this year's theme, "The Power of Learning".
Winners were honoured for their exceptional presentations, with accolades awarded at each year level.
The winners were:
- Year 7: Jasmine Leila Hamdan, Tara Anglican School for Girls
- Year 8: Aniha Keshwani, Girraween High School
- Year 9: Sofia Trofa, Tara Anglican School for Girls
- Year 10: Ashlyn Kumar, Our Lady of Mercy College, Parramatta
- Year 11: Danuli Kankanamge, Baulkham Hills High School
Danuli Kankanamge, the Year 11 winner, reflected on the pride she felt in securing first place.
"Seeing their [her father and one of her younger brothers] expressions when I won was incredibly rewarding. My father has been a guiding force throughout my life, especially in my journey with public speaking," she said.
"Having him there to witness my win meant the world to me. I was equally proud to win in front of my youngest brother… I know that watching me succeed opened new doors in how he views his own potential."
Year 9 winner, Sofia Trofa, addressed the global inequities in education during her speech, expressing gratitude for the opportunities available in Australia.
"I discussed how fortunate we are to live in Australia, where both genders have equal access to education," she said.
"Sadly, this is not the case in many parts of the world, where women are often denied their right to learn and have their power stripped from them."
Aniha Keshwani, the Year 8 champion, emphasised the impact public speaking can have in inspiring others.
"What I love most about public speaking is the ability to connect with an audience and share ideas that might spark new thoughts or actions," Aniha said.
"Public speaking gives me the opportunity to challenge myself, while also creating meaningful dialogues. It's a way to demonstrate that we are capable of making a difference through our words and actions."
Soroptimist International (SI), a global volunteer organisation active in 118 countries, aims to uplift and empower women and girls through education and opportunity.
This year's competition embodied their mission by giving young people a platform to develop leadership skills and share their voices.
Above: Year 7 students who competed in the 2024 Soroptimist International Public Speaking Competition standing together for the photo.
Above: Year 8 students who competed in the 2024 Soroptimist International Public Speaking Competition standing together for the photo.
Above: Year 9 students who competed in the 2024 Soroptimist International Public Speaking Competition standing together for the photo.
Above: Year 10 students who competed in the 2024 Soroptimist International Public Speaking Competition standing together for the photo.
Above: Year 11 students who competed in the 2024 Soroptimist International Public Speaking Competition standing together for the photo.
