Fierce competition rages in Council chambers this week

Tuesday July 31, 2018

The Orange City Council chambers has been the location of serious debate, passionate speeches, defeats and triumphs for decades, but annually it is also the location of an argument of a different kind, though equally as tense.

The annual Mayor’s Cup Debating Competition is on Wednesday August 1, during Local Government Week.

Orange Mayor Reg Kidd said the competition was a chance for the city’s young people to showcase their critical thinking skills and gain confidence with public speaking.

“I am always amazed at the talent during the competitions,” Cr Kidd said.

“I always go home thinking the future is in good hands.

“Each year Orange schools send the best of the best from their senior debating crop and each year the competition is fierce.”

This year’s topics include;

· Orange’s sense of community will get smaller, as the size of population grows bigger

· Twelve councillors is too many for a local council to be effective

· A local council should consult with the community before making major decisions.

“The topics being debated are always relevant to Orange and the community and I’m particularly keen on hearing the arguments for and against these particular subjects,” Cr Kidd said.

Orange Deputy Mayor Joanne McRae, who would preside as chairperson during one of the debates, said the event brought back memories from her own school years.

“I competed in this very competition when I was at James Sheahan Catholic High School, “Cr McRae said.

“I can definitely appreciate the nerves the students have on the day and I’m really looking forward to seeing how they tackle each topic.

“It’s great experience for our senior students and it’s a wonderful chance to help develop some of those public speaking tools which will be needed later in life.

“One of my former team mates at the time, Hamish Bevan, is now a barrister in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia and the Supreme Court of New South Wales and I regularly have to speak in public as part of my current role in the Council.

“It shows activities like the Mayor’s Cup really can help you develop skills for future careers.”

Schools competing in this year’s debate include Orange High School, Kinross Wolaroi School and for the first time, Orange Anglican Grammar.

The Kerri Parkes Memorial Trophy, will be awarded to the most outstanding speaker on the day.

The Mayor’s Cup Debating Competition is in its 15th year.

DEBATE: Students from Canobolas Rural Technology High School during a previous Mayor's Cup debate.