Our students excelled at the latest Frayne Speech Festival which was held on Friday 17 August in Sheperton, hosted by Notre Dame College. A group of 24 students from various year levels and three staff travelled to Shepparton to take part in the public speaking competition that involves Mercy schools from around Australia and began in 1996 at MLMC.
The students competed in one of three public speaking activities: the Voice (Speech) Choir, a Debating competition and an Individual Speech section, with MLMC claiming first place in the Voice Choir section. Kelly Edyvane (Year 12 Purple) and Bella Hamment (Year 12 Orange) represented the College in the Individual Speech section. Kelly’s chosen topic was “Laughter is the best medicine” and Bella’s topic was “Manners matter”. Both girls dealt with their nerves well and presented beautiful speeches on the day.
In the Debating competition, we were represented by three accomplished DAV (Debating Association of Victoria) debaters in Kaitlyn Crymble (Year 10 Gold), Jamieson Manger (Year 10 Bronze) and Rebecca Snell (Year 10 Silver). The girls debated two topics on the day, losing one and winning the other. Kaitlyn earned Best Speaker honours in the second debate. Unfortunately, neither of these teams made it through to finals but all of the students enjoyed the experience of meeting students from other Mercy schools and participating in the day.
The Voice Choir section is a very challenging event and Ms Caroline Dickason has coached this group for the last four years. Please find a information realting to Voice component of the Frayne Festival below.
The MLMC Voice Choir at the Frayne Festival
By Ms Caroline Dickason
MLMC’s Voice Choir team of 18 girls clinched first place at the Festival, winning the perpetual wooden plaque and a glass trophy. The Voice Choir section is open to Years 7-10 and is separate from the College Choir. The girls had to present a piece with speech (not singing). We can play with the delivery of the words, but essentially, everyone speaks together, in unison, using the same inflections, tonal qualities, pronunciation, etc.
For the last two years, our Voice Choir was the only one using props, and this year we included spoken harmony. One of the rules forbids singing, but allows spoken harmony, and it is a fine line between the two.
The host school chooses a published Australian compulsory piece (poem or prose) which all schools need to prepare. Each school then chooses a self-selected piece. There are various rules in place, such as no movement at all in the compulsory piece, and limited movement with some props for the self-selected piece.
This was my fourth year directing the Voice Choir. The first year was a good learning experience and in the second we achieved the third-highest score but only first and second are recognised as 'places'. Last year, we achieved second place, and it was wonderful to win it this year.
MLMC’s Voice Choir team comprised these 18 students:
- Amy Roberts (Year 10 Green)
- Kirra Smark (Year 10 Green)
- Brianna Moore (Year 9 Green)
- Shae Preston (Year 9 White)
- Alisha Rowden (Year 9 White)
- Talissa Tocci (Year 9 Jade)
- Alyssia Trinnick (Year 9 Jade)
- Melinda Virgona (Year 9 Jade)
- Ella Mae Aranco (Year 8 Gold)
- Tegan Banks (Year 8 Gold)
- Jessica Finette (Year 8 Purple)
- Danielle Gazzola (Year 8 Orange)
- Grace George (Year 8 Gold)
- Monica Mockiewicz (Year 8 Silver)
- Cheyenne Moore (Year 8 Orange)
- Victoria Prasel (Year 8 White)
- Bethany Tipping (Year 8 Silver)
- Emma Williamson (Year 8 Orange)
