Youth set to roar at annual public speaking competition

Lyne and Matthew Plummer. Photo: Melinda Jane.
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Some of the brightest students in our region will be competing in the Penrith Lions Club’s Youth of the Year 2025 public speaking competition next week.

Competing schools include Caroline Chisholm College, Penrith Selective High School and Springwood High School.

Penrith Lions Club members Lyne and Matthew Plummer claim it’s much more than a public speaking competition.

“The children have to fill out a resume talking about how they’re involved in their school, how they’re involved in the community, what their interests are, and how their academic standings go – it’s looking at a whole picture of a person rather than just having them stand up and talk,” said Lyne, the event organiser.

Upon completing their CV’s, students get to meet the judges in an interview-style scenario to build confidence.

“The next step then is the afternoon where they come out and they’re asked two impromptu questions to see how they think on their feet and draw on the knowledge that they’ve got to answer a question which is completely unseen,” Lyne explained.

The competition has been running since 1964, optimising the confidence, leadership and citizenship qualities in thousands of school leavers.

“I’ve been a judge before, and over the years, it’s incredible what they talk about,” Matthew exclaimed.

“There are things they say off the top of their heads that make you go, ‘Where’d this come from?’

“I always say to them, ‘At your age, I could never do anything like that’, even though I ended up as a principal.”

The club competition will be held on Sunday, February 16 at Penrith Bowling Club with Penrith Mayor Todd Carney and local Penrith MP Karen McKeown in attendance as intrigued spectators.

One student will progress to the next level, representing the area at the zone competition on Sunday, March 2.

That student may then progress to state and national levels.

Ally Hall

Ally Hall joined the Weekender in 2024, and focuses on entertainment and community stories. She's a graduate of the University of South Australia and has previously worked as a Video Journalist with Southern Cross Austereo and as a News Reader with Australian Radio Network.


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