Community
22 March, 2024
Tough competition for Youth of the Year
CAMPERDOWN’S Lions Club hosted the regional final of the Youth of the Year competition earlier this month.
Contestants Ebony Pearce, Lily Fountain, Byron McMahon and Brigitte Graesser represented Lions clubs of Camperdown, Colac, Portland and Warrnambool respectively on Saturday, March 2.
Judges were Laurie Hickey, Carole Manifold and Kellie Wain.
Contestants were judged on four categories: the written application, panel interview, impromptu questions and a prepared speech.
Judges said all contestants presented well and gave favourable comments for the diverse speech topics.
Topics of five minute speeches included Change, Overuse of electronic devices, All about Movember, and Agricultural Illiteracy.
The winner of the Public Speaking section, and also the overall winner, was Bayview College’s Byron McMahon, with Colac’s Lily Fountain named as runner-up.
Both students now progress to the District Final being held in Camperdown on March 23, where they will compete against other region finalists from western Victoria.
The winner from the District Final will compete at the Victorian State Final at Maryborough on April 27, with that winner progressing to the National Final at Darwin in May.