2019 School Magazine

JUNIOR AND SENIOR MERLE WEAVER

CO-CURRICULUM

T he Junior and Senior Merle Weaver Public Speaking Competition is an annual Girls Grammar event. The competition is named after former staff member, Ms MerleWeaver. Ms Weaver was a passionate advocate for girls’ education and in particular, encouraged girls to be independent, autonomous and empowered by their ability to speak to an audience. In 1954, Ms Weaver made a bequest to the School for both competitions. The junior competition is open to girls in Year 10 and the senior competition is open to girls in Year 12. One girl from each House is selected to compete in the competitions. In the junior competition girls can speak about a topic of their own choosing. The senior competition has two sections—a speech on a topic of their choice and an impromptu speech on one of three unseen proverbs. Both competitions are judged on manner and matter as in debating. This year’s winner of the Junior Merle Weaver competition was Abigail King (10R), with a special mention to Clare Fitzpatrick (10O). Congratulations to Ela Noble (12M) on winning the Senior Merle Weaver competition and special mention to Adhiti Gobindnarain (12E) on her compelling speech.

JUNIOR MERLE WEAVER COMPETITORS AND TOPICS:

Student

Topic

1 Hannah Rutter (10W)

Deception: how we live a lie

2 Abigail King (10R) WINNER

Great oaks from little acorns grow

3 Clare Fitzpatrick (10O)

The exploitation of our data within technological companies

4 Eve Zelich (10L)

The public voice of women

5 Eva Mei (10B)

Living your life unapologetically

6 Thilini Wijesuriya (10G)

Peace is possible through reflection and choice

7 Chelsea Matthew (10E)

Neurodiversity

8 Zoe Mellick (10H)

Growing up is a state of mind

9 Sabine Hatzipetrou (10M)

Gender equality

SENIOR MERLE WEAVER COMPETITORS AND TOPICS:

Student

Topic

1 Brianna Wakefield (12W)

The unethical treatment of Aboriginal youths in detention centres

2 Alexandra Nash (12R)

Children in off-shore refugee camps

3 Lillian Geffen (12O)

Voluntourism

4 Charlotte Duff (12L)

Female genital mutilation

5 Paris Comiskey (12B)

Child exploitation in the fashion industry

6 Gemma Rowland-King (12G)

Fur farming is morally unsupportable

7 Nina Hadzivukovic (12H)

The use of elephant ivory is morally repugnant

8 Ela Noble (12M) WINNER

The use of restraint chairs is unethical

9 Adhiti Gobindnarain (12E)

Asking questions

108 | BRISBANE GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL 2019