The eight-year-old Orange Anglican Grammar student was among thousands of children who will compete in this year’s City of Orange Eisteddfod which began yesterday with speech and drama sections.

“After breakfast it leaves me plenty of time to practise,” she said.

But it’s not just her recitations she rehearses.

“I learn the piano and I play the trumpet in the school band, so I practise those as well,” she said.

Naomi’s mother Meridee Wright says her daughter was first introduced to speech and drama performance as part of speech therapy she was undertaking.

“It was to really help her with her enunciation and she really enjoyed it so she kept on going,” she said.

Naomi says she’s only rarely affected by nerves.

“Sometimes that can be because I have to remember all the words,” she said.

The City of Orange Eisteddfod speech and drama highlights will take place on Thursday morning at the Orange Function Centre when the primary school verse speaking sections are held.