Objects of Substance – The Merle Weaver Prize for Public Spe

Below are some insights into the enduring significance of the competition by some of its most recent participants:

‘ I had wanted to do this competition since Grade 6 when I first read about it in the School Magazine. It’s extremely valuable to have opportunities like Merle which allow people to realise their potential and express themselves,’ Ellen Baek (11E).

‘I decided to enter the competition when I found out about the theme (Generations). It interested me, as I am half Chinese and sometimes feel my Chinese culture is lost. So, I was interested in teaching others about my family. I also enjoyed the fact that, unlike an assessment, I could speak on what I wanted without having to worry about a grade,’ Faith Scott (11M).

‘Merle Weaver is an amazing experience, regardless of the outcome. It allows an individual to step outside of their comfort zone, voice their views, and showcase their public speaking ability to their peers. School has never been my forte … so growing up t here weren’t a lot of things I was particularly good at or confident in. However, speaking and sharing my thoughts have always been my strong suit. It is vital that competitions like Merle Weaver exist because it allows for all types of students to show th eir talents and skills in a way that is different from academics and testing,’ Georgie Falting (11B). As Professor Howells reflected on the ‘continuities’ in our lives— those few unbroken lines of inspiration one can follow from adulthood back to catalysing moments in our youth — she recalled a favourite quotation of hers by Atwood: ‘Age doesn’t make you a different person … I think it makes you a different version of who you already were’ (in Bunbury 2016). While the competition’s format, location, and topic choices have changed over the years, the inspirational spirit of Miss Weaver remains constant: a different version of what is always at its heart.