In Tuesday’s Country Women’s Association public speaking competition in Bathurst, Orange students from years 3 to year 10 dominated the competition with their confidence and eloquence.

Competition co-ordinator Beverley Worrall said she was impressed by the large number of Orange students who excelled in the competition.

“I am not quite sure why Orange has done so well as we had strong representation from many other schools,” Mrs Worrall said.

She said the winners and placegetters were decided by a panel of three judges.

“Obviously they confer and come up with their winners,” she said.

“After I had started to read out the names of the winners and the runners up, I realised so many of them had come from Orange.”

Orange students were supported by a large group of family and friends at the public speaking competition.

Venessa Bliss travelled to Bathurst to support her granddaughter Isabelle Corscadden who represented Calare Public School in the competition.

“The skills students are able to gain from this experience, including confidence and elocution, will become incredibly valuable when they enter high school, move on to university and their careers,” she said.

“It should be part of the curriculum that children learn about public speaking from kindergarten.”

The Orange and district students who did so well in the competition were:

Year 3: 1st  - Eloise Milne of Orange Public School, 2nd - Deliah Wu of Bletchington Public School.

Year 4: 1st - Thomas Pell of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, 2nd - Oliver Tom of Bletchington Public School.

Year 5: 1st - Glynmar Bersolto of Bletchington Public School, highly commended - Sophie Heath of Molong Public School.

Year 6: 2nd - Gabby Shilling of Orange Public School.

Years 7/8: 1st - Cheyenne Sciascia of Orange High School.

Years 9/10: 1st - Matthew Pell of James Sheahan Catholic High School.

janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au