By Mr Nick Ewbank, Head of History, Philosophy and RaVE and Director of Oratory

This semester, 19 teams (comprising approximately 85 Year 7-12 students) competed across three age divisions in the ACT Debating interschool competitions.

In the Junior Division (Year 7/8), we entered seven teams. All debaters showed fine improvement across the semester, and three teams - Radford 1, Radford 2 and Radford 3 - progressed to the quarter-finals.

In the Senior Division (Year 9/10), we entered seven teams. Radford 2 was knocked out at the semi-final stage. However, Radford 1 - Emily Wang, Sofia O'Brien, Anika Chaturvedi, Erica Li and Tahlia Hunt - won the Grand Final against Canberra Grammar School (CGS) on 14 June. Thalia was named Speaker of the Final.

In the Advanced Division (Year 11/12), we entered five teams. Radford 1 - Emily Wang, Brian Chen, Edi Lupton and Terry Yang - won the Grand Final, also against a CGS team, on 14 June. Terry was named Speaker of the Final.

To have won two premierships out of three is a phenomenal achievement, and all debaters should be proud of their progress and achievements.

Terry and Edi were also selected in the ACT Team for the National Championships in Melbourne.

I'd like to thank Kylie Coll (second-in-command of the Senior Division) and the Coaches - Ben Chery, Isaac Carriline and Collegian Roshan Kewalram - for their outstanding work with the teams.