There's something quietly remarkable about watching a young person stand up and speak with purpose. No slides. No notes. Just seven to eight minutes, an idea, and a room full of people waiting to be convinced.
This term, nine QAHS students did just that in the 2025 A.B. Paterson Public Speaking Competition - an event known for drawing some of the most articulate and thoughtful student voices from across the Gold Coast.
Representing QAHS were:
Year 10: Joel George, Alexander Earwicker, Sienna Earwicker, Timothy Wissa and Hugo Zhang
Year 11: Liza Gratchev, Johanna Lee, Jelena Uzelac and Izabella Wilson
Their speeches covered big ideas - from “Money Makes the World Go Round" and “What's In A Name?" to “We Can't Go On Like This" - and required the kind of critical thinking, composure, and clarity that few adults could deliver under pressure.
Each student committed to the rigorous process of preparing, refining, and presenting their speech before an audience of adjudicators, peers, and members of the public. They spoke not just to impress, but to connect - and in that, they succeeded.
A particular congratulations goes to Sienna Earwicker, who placed in the Top 2 of her heat and progressed to the Grand Final. This is a tremendous achievement and a testament to her thoughtful approach, confident delivery, and ability to hold a room with words alone. Here is a sneak peak at the introduction of her speech titled “Introverts vs Extroverts":
““Why are you so quiet?"
“She's just shy, she'll grow out of it."
“You should speak up more."
“Oh, she's very reserved, isn't she?"
“You'll never get anywhere if you don't speak up."
“Don't you have anything to say?"
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen. What you have just heard are extracts from my childhood soundtrack.
Shy, reserved, softly spoken. These are all words associated with being an introvert. All words that have been used to describe me. So, apparently I'm an introvert.
But, do I consider myself to be an introvert? No. On the flip side, do I consider myself to be an extrovert? No to that too.
But you see, people love to pigeonhole people. It's easy to give someone a label. It allows them to be put in a box – a box that creates a seemingly safe and comfortable space.
However, when considering the concept of introverts and extroverts people seem to overlook the fact that it's not that simple. You can't label someone an introvert, or an extrovert – there's a spectrum. And all of us sit somewhere on that spectrum. There are no absolutes. And that's why I don't think I'm either. I'm just me."
Behind the scenes, Mr Mark Hunter, International Toastmaster and longtime facilitator of the Public Speaking @ QAHS program, played a pivotal role in supporting students. His guidance has been instrumental in helping our speakers find not only their voice, but their conviction.
We're proud of each student who showed up, spoke up, and reminded us all why student voice matters.
Student reflections:
Participating in the A.B. Paterson Public Speaking Competition was a rewarding experience. The topic I selected was Money Makes the World Go Round, in which I explored the influence money has, in distorting our values, deepening inequality, shaping relationships and futures – highlighting how it does makes our world go round, but in the wrong direction. Crafting this speech was an eye-opening experience, as my initial interest transformed into a deep exploration of the systemic role of money. My research revealed shocking data about money creating inequality gaps and locking opportunities out. Refining drafts challenged me to remove unnecessary information, sharpening my arguments with clear, concise, and powerful language. Delivering the speech to an audience of students and adjudicators reminded me of the power of reclaiming our voices to speak up on issues that affect us all. This experience has deepened my passion for words to drive meaningful change, while also allowing me to view other unique perspectives of others on a range of different issues. I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity to represent QAHS, and I encourage all students interested in advocacy or stepping out of their comfort zone to participate next year.
Jelena Uzelac, Year 11 Student
I'm so glad I was given the opportunity to take part in the public speaking competition this year. It was an amazing experience that allowed me to voice my opinions about my desired topic. Not only that, the process behind creating and presenting my speech was significant as it allowed me to learn a lot of new things on the way. I was able to learn about how to structure my speech and consider the topic more deeply. During the competition, even listening to the other competitors has helped me see different issues with new insights and perspectives. I think taking on the challenge to participate in this public speaking competition was really fun and gave me an opportunity to continue to develop my public speaking skills – something that I know is essential in so many situations and industries. Overall, I think that having an opportunity to speak in front of an unknown audience is invaluable and will help me now and into the future as well. - Liza Gratchev, Year 11 Student
I was fortunate to participate in the 2025 A.B. Paterson Public Speaking Competition, where I presented my speech, 'Introverts versus Extroverts'. I found that this competition was a valuable learning experience that expanded my public speaking skills and confidence. There were a wide variety of participants from many different schools, and I really enjoyed observing and learning from their speeches.
I am also incredibly happy that I connected with my audience; a father of one of my fellow speakers took the time to come and talk to me about his experiences, as an introvert, in business. Also, he shared a fascinating 'fun fact' with me! Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, ensures that each meeting that he chairs starts with the most junior person in the room speaking first; this is an active choice to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to be heard.
I am incredibly appreciative that Mrs Marnie Chetter was able to attend to offer support. Mr Mark Hunter, with whom I am currently undertaking the QAHS Public Speaking program, also attended. It was wonderful to have him there to be a part of the experience; his warmth and kindness, as well as his invaluable guidance and feedback, made the experience very special.
Sienna Earwicker, Year 10 Student
Marnie Chetter
Teacher of English & Student Leadership Coordinator