SPEAKING COMPETITIONS FOR ROSTRUM MEMBERS

Queensland Rostrum conducts a number of internal speaking competitions as listed below, showcasing speakers from across Queensland. Any member of the public is welcome to experience the quality of speaking presented by attending any of the finals. The dates for the finals will be posted on this site as they draw nearer.

• Arch Williams Speaker of the Year Competition

Arch Williams first introduced the Speaker of the Year Competition in 1953. This is Queensland Rostrum's premier speaking competition for members. The winner receives the Arch Williams Memorial Trophy and his or her name is recorded on the honour board.

• Freeman Frank Smith Award

This competition selects the best up and coming speaker in South East Queensland. Members with fewer than two years' experience in Rostrum or a similar public speaking forum deliver an eight minute speech.

Impromptu Debating Competition

This competition allows each team of three speakers only 15 minutes preparation time, but teams are still required to apply the normal rules of debate, organising their arguments in a clear, logical manner.

• Short notice Speaking Competitions

There are 2 competitions in this category -

With both competitions, participants have four minutes to prepare a three minute speech. The winner is awarded both a perpetual and a personal trophy. Entry in the novice competition is restricted to those with fewer than two years' speaking experience.

• Eddie Fee After Dinner Speaking Competition

First held in 2000, this competition encourages a different style of speech from that which is usually delivered by Rostrum members. Presentations are of the type which are in demand outside Rostrum as light, humorous entertainment.

Speeches run for seven to nine minutes and the requirements for speech structure and delivery are not applied as rigidly as for normal Rostrum speaking competitions.

• Far North Queensland Rostrum Speaker of the Year

This competition aims to identify the best speaker in the Rostrum clubs of Far North Queensland. Each participant is required to deliver a ten minute speech on an own choice topic and a three minute short notice speech.

The competition is timed so that the winner has the opportunity to become the Far North's representative in the Arch Williams Speaker of the Year Competition. He or she is also presented with an engraved perpetual trophy.

ROSTRUM VOICE OF YOUTH

The Rostrum Voice of Youth speaking competition is the premier speaking competition for secondary school children. It has been conducted by Australian Rostrum since 1975 and is aimed at developing the communication skills of the youth of Australia.

For details of this year's competition in Queensland go to the Voice of Youth page.