Division D Evaluation and International Speech Contest

Napier turned on a superb meeting on Saturday with over 50 Toastmasters from Hawkes Bay through to the Bay of Plenty turning up to hear the best Speakers and Evaluators in Division D battle it out to represent the Division at the District Evaluation and International Speech contests in Wellington in May.

A well organised event hosted by MC Ian Wright (from Hastings TM). Congratulations must go to Division Director Peter Croftsky for his organisational skills.

The afternoon started with the Evaluation Contest, chaired by Napier's own Ian Wright. The test speaker was a non toastmaster! Her speech, titled “the Scourge of our Society” was about the effects of “P” and spoken from real life experience in her professional role with the Prison Service. She opened her speech by getting all the audience to shake hands with the person next to them and then shake hands with the third person along. She then said we had just shaken hands with  a “P” user.  It is estimated 30% of the NZ population either are or had used “P” and went on to give some graphic examples of how easy it is to make it, the huge amount of money involved and the effects on the users, their families and society.  I thought it a very well crafted and informative presentation and very difficult to evaluate. Glad I was not one of the contestants or the judges!

After a brief presentation from Toastmasters Club Growth Director Toni Sharp on the incoming Pathways programme and a wonderful afternoon tea (thanks to those who provided the wonderful array of food) it was onto the International Speech contest, chaired by Bailey Wood from Rotorua. Six speakers, including previous NZ World Champion of Public Speaking representative Kingi Biddle provided us with a range of moving, humorous and motivating speeches.

First up was Amy Davidson speaking on a very effective youth programme she established called Emerge. Her speech entitled “Hope Emerges”.

Next was Chris Turner with “the Silent One’ about his childhood nicknames and the power of self belief as he grew up.

Then we had Kingi Biddle with “Mt Awesome” and the unveiling of a painting by “Michaelkingi” of Mt Awesome. The painting was not of the mountain that the people expected and they came to realise their view of the mountain is not the only one.

Our fourth speaker was Jessie Chen whose speech ‘The Dotty Umbrella” centred on how her mothers visit from China caused her some embarrassment with different customs that stood her out from the crowd, using a “dotty umbrella” everywhere she went .

Helen Hunt gave a moving speech titled  “The Stranger lady”, a personal experience about her life as a young solo mother and the effect one strangers visit had on the rest of her life.

Finally it was our own Amy Edwards with “Connect the Dots”, a speech she has presented at the club about her connection with her own “fairy godmother”.

Results

Napiers very own representatives at Division cleaned up  – Craig in the Evaluation Contest and Amy in the International Speech Contest. Both well deserved winners in my opinion. Both amazing speakers now go onto the May Convention in Wellington to represent Division D at the District finals. If you have not yet registered, do it NOW and support our two club members in their quest to become the countries Evaluation and International Speech champions.

Second in the Evaluation contest was Te Uruekaiha Raharuhi and third John Twaddle.

Second in the International Speech Contest was Kingi Biddle and third Helen Hunt.

If you weren’t there you missed a great afternoons entertainment.

Craig and Amy - representing at the finals!