School teams crowned debate champs

Students at a Rockingham High School have proved they can talk the talk after winning an inter-school debating competition.

South Coast Baptist College debating teams recently won the junior and senior categories of the Western Australian Debating League Rockingham/Mandurah competition.

Head of English James Trimble said the school had initiated the competition as there hadn’t been one for the region before.

“We’ll follow through with the competition next year and we are looking for any other schools in the area who would like to join,” he said.

Student Jack Ellery said it was enjoyable and something completely different for him.

“I usually play sport during the year so I gave that up and did debating instead and I thought it helped with some of my studies as well,” he said. “I overcame a lot of my nerves as I got more practice and experience debating.”

Best senior speaker award winner Shaylah Ryan-Sheriff said it was great to work in a team.

“It was a competition but it wasn’t hostile,” she said.

“We were all getting along and encouraging each other outside of the debate so it was nice to see the culture that we created.”