The PNRSA wants to encourage more youth (secondary school students) into the military heritage and history space, by sponsoring a youth essay and speech competition. It has planned to conduct a 2019 speech competition, with both the essay and speech competitions being held in 2020 and years to follow.
The winners of the 2019 speech competition will provide the youth speakers for the 2019 Armistice Day service in The Square on 11 November 2019 and the youth speakers for the two 2020 ANZAC Day (Dawn and Civic) services in The Square on 25 April 2020.
The winners will also receive $150.00 Prezzy Card, a book token gift each, plus a $400 contribution to each of the winning schools’ history departments.
The competition judging panel will comprise the PNCC Representative, a representative from Massey University and the PN Heritage Trust, plus a PN Youth Council rep. This initiative will be on trial for the 2019-2021 period and is supported by the Manawatū-Whanganui History Teachers Association (MWHTA), PNRSA and PN City Library (Heritage Section).
Applicants (students) will be drawn from all ten (10) secondary schools in the PNCC area, including Awatapu, Cornerstone, Freyberg, LAC, Manukura, PNBHS, PNGHS, QEC, St Peters and TŪ TOA.
Key Dates:
1. Registrations of Interest Close: Midday on Friday 20 September 2019 and should be done through history teachers. (History Teachers to complete Microsoft Form supplied in Email).
2. Entry to Speech Competition Finalized: 16th October 2019
3. Speech Competition Evening: (TBC - Week of the 21th October) at the Youth Space Palmerston North
4. Selected Youth Speaks at PNCC Armistice Day Service: 11th November 2019
5. Formal Prize Giving: 11th November 2019 at the PN Conference and Function Centre post-Armistice Day service.
6. Selected Young People Speak at PNCC Anzac Day Service: 25th April 2020 Speech
Criteria:
1. The speech must be a maximum of three (3) minutes in duration;
2. It must be accompanied by a written script (to be handed in following delivery);
3. Applicants will be given 30 seconds to introduce themselves and their school, at the beginning of their delivery and in addition to the speech duration time;
4. In the main part of the speech, applicants should discuss: a. What ANZAC Day or Armistice Day is and means to them; b. What (if any) family or personal connections they have with service in WW1, WW2 or more recent conflicts, NZ Defence Force, NZ Cadet Force, or NZ Police (it is okay if they don’t have any connections – it could be someone they know, have researched or read about as well); c. Content could fit within the current history/school curriculum; and d. Leave the audience (and judging panel) with something to think about/reflect on. Perhaps why this day continues to be important and significant to NZ, and will continue to be significant in the future;
5. Speeches must be ready to be delivered at the beginning of Term 4, in front of a judging panel at the Youth Space
Enquiries:
For competition enquiries, please contact Bronwyn Cook, HOD History and Social Science, Freyberg High School,
Palmerston North at cookb@freyberg.ac.nz, or on (06) 358-4971.
