Semester 1 debating

By Nick Ewbank, Director of Oratory

Radford entered 12 teams in the Semester 1 ACT Debating Union competitions – seven in the Junior division (Years 7 and 8), three in the Senior division (Years 9 and 10) and two in the Advanced (Years 11 and 12).

All teams performed creditably, with Radford 1 and Radford 3 in the Junior Division making quarterfinals (against each other), and Radford 1 progressing to the semi-final. In the Advanced division, Radford 1 (in that division) went all the way to the grand final.

I am delighted to record that Radford 1 defeated Girls Grammar in the grand final, the first time in four years Radford has won a division, and the first time in more than 10 years that a Radford Advanced team has won!

Two members of the Radford 1 team – Terry Yang and Roshan Kewalram – were also selected for the ACT Representative team. The other – more than capable – members of Radford 1 were Imogen Eynon-Cooke, Camilla Lupton and James Dixon.

The speakers on the night of the grand final were Terry, James and Roshan (unfortunately, Imogen was sick and Camilla unavailable). The lads put up a formidable case against the proposition That we would prefer a world where everybody believes in the concept of a sleeping God rather than an active God, and emerged victorious in a split decision of the adjudication panel. Roshan was awarded Best Speaker in the final.

This victory was the perfect ending to a season in which Radford 1 was undefeated.

Also of note is the beginning, last term, of the inter-House debating competition. This is currently nearing its conclusion, with the Senior grand final this week (Week 3) and the Junior grand final next week. In the Senior grand final Boronia will be taking the affirmative in arguing That private schools should be banned, while Acacia will be taking the negative.

At the time of writing, the grand finalists for the Junior competition are still to be decided.