TEENAGE girls can usually be found going shopping, at the movies or having sleepovers together, but that is not the case with a group of Orange High School students.
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Friends and Orange High’s senior debating team Isabella Bankovic, Freya Hawke, Alexandra Boyd and Eleanor Delaney won the Dudley Debating Cup on Thursday night after beating James Sheahan Catholic High School.
The year 11 students, who have been a team since year 7, were proud of their win against tough opponents, arguing against an even tougher topic: International diplomacy is moot without common values.
“We mainly played on the fact that you can have international diplomacy with or without common values,” Alexandra said.
“We also said for international diplomacy to work, you don’t necessarily have to have the same values, you can have similar interests and goals,” Isabella added.
Orange High joined James Sheahan, The Canobolas Rural Technology High School, Orange Anglican Grammar School, Blayney High School and Kinross Wolaroi School to compete in the cup, now in its 24th year.
The girls put their success down to their friendship outside of the team.
“Our school relationship really helps in the hour of preparation before a debate, because we really help each other with our arguments,” Eleanor said.
“Getting along, knowing how each other thinks and helping each other in that hour is important,” Alexandra said.
The team’s coach and Orange High teacher Kristy Hilton agreed friendship played a big role in the team.
“They’re all quite academic, and they were immediately successful from the start [in year 7]. I think their friendship plays an important role. One of the key points is forming a cohesive team argument, and they do that very well,” Ms Hilton said.
The students won $500 for their efforts, which will help the school enter all of its debating teams in upcoming competitions.
