Murtoa College’s Lyra Reardon has won Horsham Legacy’s public-speaking competition for the second consecutive year.

The year-nine student, among eight others, delivered a prepared and an impromptu speech.

Lyra, 15, said the event was important, and it gave her a unique opportunity.

“It’s very important, especially in helping me express who I am and to show things that I can’t in other parts of my life,” she said.

“School doesn’t offer this type of thing, in most places you’d never get the opportunity to do this. 

“I actually enjoy public-speaking now. I didn’t at first, it terrified me – it’s become something I look forward to doing.”

Horsham Legacy president Philip Nicks said students from across the Wimmera participated in the annual competition.

“I’m pleased to say we got nine students this year – last year we only ended up with three, but we’ve now got three or four enthusiastic teachers who guarantee us next year, they’ll have even more students,” he said.

“The quality and standard of the participants was excellent. 

“The subjects were many and varied, and they all had an individual presentation, which were different to each other, but all extremely interesting to listen to.

“It can be a difficult job for the judges to pick the first, second and third.”

First and second place-getters will compete in a regional final at Ballarat on September 9, with those first and second-placed competing in the national final at Melbourne. 

“The value of this competition is immeasurable – the ability to speak publicly is a big thing,” Mr Nicks said.

“They’re very nervous when they get here, but by the end of the day, when it’s all over, they’ve formed a group and they’re yacking away; they all get something out of it.” 

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