General News
15 September, 2026
Students shine in Legacy public speaking finals
Wimmera Students Lyre Reardon of Murtoa College and Darcy Milburn of the Hopetoun P-12 College displayed an impressive repertoire of creative thinking, confidence, and oratory skills when challenged with impromptu topics and public speaking at the State Final Legacy Junior Public Speaking Award.
Wimmera Students Lyre Reardon of Murtoa College and Darcy Milburn of the Hopetoun P-12 College displayed an impressive repertoire of creative thinking, confidence, and oratory skills when challenged with impromptu topics and public speaking at the State Final Legacy Junior Public Speaking Award.
The state finals were held on Wednesday, September 9, at Legacy House in Ballarat, for students aged 12-14, fostering an appreciation for the ideals of Legacy, such as voluntary service, social justice, personal sacrifice, mateship, and remembrance.
Wimmera Legacy president Philip Nicks recognised the benefits of public speaking and urged schools to encourage their students.
“It's a fantastic thing for the kids. We love it, the Legatees love it… It's really worthwhile,” he said.
At the State Finals, students must give two presentations.
The first is a five-minute speech on a topic they prepare, focusing on Legacy's ideals.
In the second round, students have five minutes to prepare an impromptu speech on an unseen topic, with two minutes to present.
Lyre’s prepared speech focused on the legacy that we leave behind when we are gone.
Darcy’s prepared speech was on gratitude, prompting the question of whether we show enough of it.
He reflected on the value Australians place on service and sacrifice in times of conflict, and the opportunities to learn from previous generations’ gratitude for the simple comfort food provided in hard times.
He regionalised his presentation with a personal acknowledgement of farmers and truck drivers as the country's backbone, providing fresh food to feed people and animals.
Darcy placed second out of 12 competing public speakers and progressed to the national finals held in Ballarat in November.