Local Students in the Speak Up Awards

Local Students in the Speak Up Awards

Speak Up Awards is a community project run by The Grand Lodge of WA Freemasons and is open for all students in Western Australia from school years 4, 5 and 6.

To take part in the awards students chose a subject relevant to themselves, research and plan the topic and then prepare to speak on their topic for four minutes in public.

The participating students then go through elimination heats, preliminary finals and then, if successful, go on to compete in the Finals.

Two students from Greenbushes Primary entered into the awards, Edyn Hardy and Tessa Scovell.

Edyn Hardy’s topic was ‘The Inflatable Escape Slide and Raft’ as used on airplanes for emergency exits.

Edyn explains, “I am very interested in this subject because when I travelled to England by plane, the stewardess talks you through the safety protocols and explains the rapid escape procedures you need to use in the case of an accident. This was of interest to me, it made me wonder how this equipment and procedures have come about.

“The Inventor of the slide was an Australian, Jack Grant who worked for Qantas. Jack held the position at Qantas as Operations Safety Superintendent. He came up with the idea of an evacuation slide sometime around the 1960s, but put his idea into action in 1965, the year it was first created.

“I had completed a school presentation on this invention earlier in the year and believed I was very well prepared.”

Edyn’s talk was very interesting and she made it into the first elimination heats in Bunbury.

Tessa Sovell’s topic was Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern. Yes, the New Zealand politician who is the 40th prime minister of New Zealand.

Tessa was clearly inspired by Jacinda’s achievements, saying, “She is a wonderful role model for females everywhere. Jacinda has a wonderful inclusive attitude for all.

“She led her party to win the election in 2017, she then formed a coalition government with the Greens, becoming the world’s youngest female head of government at age 37.

“Jacinda Ardern later became the world’s second elected head of government to give birth while in office when her daughter was born on 21st June 2018.

“Her Labour Government has focused particularly on the New Zealand housing crisis, child poverty, and social inequality.

“In March 2019, she led the country through the aftermath of the Christchurch Mosque shootings, rapidly introducing strict gun laws in response, and throughout 2020 she directed the country’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, which had been praised and endorsed worldwide.

“Jacinda Ardern led the Labour Party to a historic victory in the 2020 general election, gaining an outright majority of 65 seats in Parliament, the first time this has happened since the introduction of proportional representation in 1996.

“Helen Reddy, Australian song writer and acclaimed singer is also an inspiration for me with her song ‘I am Woman’ the words ‘If I have to, I can face anything, I am strong, I am invincible, I am woman,’ these words are an inspirational anthem for me.”

Tessa was in the finals, which were held on the 17 September at the Lawley Park Village Community Centre, in Perth. She was well supported by her parents, Edyn and her mother came along and Greenbushes Primary school Principal Kylie Loney was also there, all attending to support Tessa.

Tessa Scovell came a creditable second on the night when there were sixteen finalists.

Tessa and Edyn both now have a life time skill, public speaking. ‘Way To Go, Girls’.