2019 Voice of Youth MC Attila Lendvai with the Social Justice winner Olivia Kaddis from Christ the King Primary North Rocks, Overall winner Anna Dubier from Trinity Catholic Primary Kemps Creek and runner-up Gemma Yager from St Angela’s Primary Castle Hill
Trinity Catholic Primary Kemps Creek Year 6 student Anna Dubier’s highly emotive and engaging speech on poverty has seen her win the prestigious 2019 Voice of Youth public speaking title.
The Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta (CEDP) 33rd Voice of Youth Grand Final was held at Our Lady of Lourdes Primary Seven Hills on Tuesday, September 24. It was the conclusion of a contest between students from 58 schools!
The judging panel included retired Principals Moya McGuiness and Kevin Etherington, retired teacher-librarian Judy Jordan and CEDP Mission Teaching Educator Amanda Bentley.
The six grand finalists were:
- Gemma Yager from St Angela’s Primary School Castle Hill who spoke about Apathy
- Renaise Alpuerto from Good Shepherd Primary School Plumpton who spoke about Education is the answer to poverty
- David Azar from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Wentworthville who spoke about How to get in and out of trouble
- Scarlett Storr from Our Lady of the Way Emu Plains who spoke about Empowering Princesses
- Olivia Kaddis from Christ The King North Rocks who spoke about Organ Donation
- Anna Dubier from Trinity Catholic Primary School Kemps Creek who spoke about Poverty
Trinity Catholic Primary School Kemps Creek’s Anna Dubier was announced the winner with her very engaging and well paced speech on poverty. Anna spoke about how the everyday things we take for granted are the stuff of dreams for children living in poverty. She encouraged the audience to take action and to think about making regular donations of clothes and food.
Runner up was St Angela’s Primary Castle Hill’s Gemma Yager who gave a very thought-provoking and personal speech about Apathy. She spoke about a young 14-year-old girl, Gertrude from Poland, who was taken away from her family to work during WWII and how no one stood up for her. She invited the audience to have a “little more empathy and a little less apathy’’, revealing the young girl she spoke about was her great-grandmother.
The Social Justice Prize went to Christ the King Primary North Rocks student Olivia Kaddis who also shared a personal story to emphasis the importance of organ donation. Her aunt, who was an organ donor, was tragically killed before Olivia was born. As a result of this decision, seven of her Aunt's organs were donated to help save seven other people’s lives.
Organiser Attila Lendvai said that the event is a wonderful showcase of student talent, and a powerful reminder to us all how important the voices of young people are in today’s complex and changing world.
The Voice of Youth Shield will now stand proudly at Trinity Catholic Primary Kemps Creek until 2020 winner is announced!
2019 Voice of Youth grand finalists (L -R) Olivia Kaddis from Christ the King Primary North Rocks, Scarlett Storr from Our Lady of Mt Carmel Primary Wentworthville, David Azar from Good Shepherd Primary Plumpton, Renaise Alpuerto from Good Shepherd Primary Plumpton, Anna Dubier from Trinity Catholic Primary Kemps Creek and Gemma Yager from St Angela’s Primary Castle Hill.