Lively Raetihi speech contest

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 28, 3 December 1985, Page 16

Lively Raetihi speech contest

'I'd like to be a fly on ) the wall', by Alison Berry, was the winning speech at the recent Raetihi School speech contest. The eight finalists, speaking to an audience of pupils, parents and teachers, were judged by Val Littlewood, of International Training and Communication (formally Toastmistress Club), and Gay Fahey, a former speech teacher. After their speeches the judges told the finalists that they were all very close, and unlike previous years, all were able to be heard clearly, and most were very imaginativeand humourous. However, they said that some speakers had lots of ideas which came tumbling out too fast. The children were given their topics about half an hour before speaking and were to speak for over one minute. Katrina Meyer impressed the judges as she did not use notes and spoke well without them. Her topic was 'the day my car wouldn't start'. Cindy Langdon's 'a day in the life of a milk bottle', was described as 'delightful' by the judges but a little hurried. It had an impact on the audience and was imaginative. 'Trapped in the zoo\ by Aaron Summerhays, was very humourous, appealed to everyone and was original in ideas, said the judges. 'Bubbling over with ideas' was Craig Maru with his speech, 'lost in the city'. He spoke clearly but also a little fast. Glenn Irwin spoke well with his 'seasickness isn't funny' topic, considering he had never been seasick, although the speech was a little short. Helene Dobson looked at ease during her speech, 'my favourite leisure activity — horses', and Brian Dowman spoke out well on 'itchy feet'. , Mrs Littlewood commented that Alison Berry's speech was very imaginative and well thought out and, although she used notes, she used them well and spoke out to the audience. Here is the text of Alison's speech: "I've been asked to speak to you about 'I'd like to be a . . .' Well really, I'd like to be a fly upon the wall. A fly upon a wall must be more rewarding than getting a medal from the Queen.

You could listen to what everyone was saying and see what they were doing. If I really was a dirty, horrid little fly, the first place I would go would be to a meeting, in the staff room perhaps. Imagine what that would be like. All those kind and understanding teachers talking behind our backs, telling everyone our wrongs and our not so wrongs. The next place I would fly t would be the principal's office. Now just think of that. Sitting high upon the wall, watching Mr Lovegrove sitting there rocking away to his favourite song, Born in the USA. He would open his filing

cabinet and in you would fly. Y ou could find out every fact about every single person in the school. Now you wouldn't like that, would you? Then I would most probably fly to the windowsill and watch all you poor children being worked hard like little slaves, with your slave-driver ready to attack at the vital moment. But after seeing all the best parts, I would start to get bored and would just sit on the window still daydreaming about what it would be like to be a human again. Then suddenly, SPLAT! Oh no, the Black Flag can, and I never saw it coming!"