CSDA Debating Competition 2008 Presentation of Trophies

CSDA Debating Competition 2013 Presentation of Trophies

Good evening and welcome to the presentation of trophies for the CSDA Metropolitan Debating Competition 2013. We are very pleased to have you with us tonight to witness the wonderful standard of debating displayed by our teams.

The CSDA offers a special welcome to Mrs.Tricia Maidens, the Executive Principal representing the Association of Catholic Schools Principals under whose auspices the CSDA operates. Tricia will present trophies for us tonight.

Mrs Julie Nicholson, the Executive Officer of the CSDA also sends her apologies.

On behalf of us all, I thank Cerdon College and in particular Mrs.Roslyn Mahrous, the debating coordinator, for her wonderful organisation for tonight.

Within the CSDA, thanks go to the CSDA Treasurer, Mrs Elizabeth Single, for the professional way in which she manages the CSDA business affairs. A big thank you is also given to debating coordinators who have acted as CSDA representatives during our finals season. In particular I thank Mr Galen Neubronner and Mr Peter Baz who have worked particularly, hard both for the Semifinals last week and for the Finals.

In 2013 the CSDA has welcomed additional schools from the Wollongong Diocese into our competition. We look forward to more schools joining them in the future.

The CSDA acknowledges the tremendous success of OLMC Parramatta in having 4 teams debating in the Finals. We would have to search very far into the CSDA Archives to find another school that has achieved this success. Congratulations OLMC.

Congratulations to all debaters who participated in one of the 460 teams in the competition this year. I am sure that the skills they learned will better equip them for whatever career they take up in the future.

Thank you to all parents, supporters, teachers, coaches and adjudicators for being here for the teams contesting the finals.

Thank you to all chairpersons, timekeepers and ushers, from Cerdon College, who have carried out their duties so well tonight.

Without further ado we will begin the presentation of trophies. I ask Mrs Tricia Maidens, Mr Michael Robson and Mrs Jane Sulis, to come forward please. In the presentations, they will be assisted by Peter Baz.

After each presentation, would each team gather where directed to have a photo.

1 YEAR 7: RUNNER UP : Gilroy College, Castle Hill WINNER: St. Patrick’s College, Campbelltown

YEAR 8: RUNNER UP: Christian Brothers High School, Lewisham WINNER: Loreto College, Normanhurst

YEAR 9: RUNNER UP: St. Ursula’s College, Kingsgrove WINNER: Our Lady of Mercy College, Parramatta

YEAR 10: RUNNER UP: Our Lady of Mercy College, Parramatta WINNER: St. Ignatius College, Riverview

Year 11: RUNNER UP: St. Ursula’s College, Kingsgrove WINNER: Our Lady of Mercy College, Parramatta

Mr Michael Robson, a foundation member of the CSDA, is invited to come forward to present the next shield.

SENIOR OPEN: RUNNER UP: Our Lady of Mercy College, Parramatta

WINNER of the Michael Robson Shield: Santa Sabina College, Strathfield

We now have the presentation of two special shields, the Junior and the Senior Aggregate Shields. These shields are awarded to the schools which have recorded the most wins in the 5 preliminary rounds. They therefore reward the depth of debating skill in either the junior (7 to 10) or senior (11 and 12) sections of a school. They are often awarded to schools which may not have a team in the finals.

JUNIOR AGGREGATE SHIELD: St Gregory’s College, Campbelltown

SENIOR AGGREGATE SHIELD: There is a 4 way tie this year for the senior aggregate shield. It is shared between Domremy College, Fivedock, Christian Brothers High School, Lewisham, Our Lady of Mercy College, Parramatta, Patrician Brothers College, Blacktown.

The final shield to present tonight is the Jane Sulis Shield for the best and fairest performance by a school.

I ask Jane to come forward to present this shield

The nature of this award is to acknowledge a school where debating is fostered by leadership from not only the debating coordinator but also by the school executive. It is also to acknowledge a school and a coordinator who is generous enough to be flexible when hosting the preliminary rounds and also in offering to host events for multi-schools events e.g. the Elimination Round, a Quarterfinal,

2 This year the shield is awarded to Marist College North Shore, and to the coordinator Mr Gregory Quinn. This is Greg’s first year coordinating in a NSW Catholic School. His generosity with his time has been exceptional.

Thank you to all debating coordinators for your untiring work throughout the year.

Many, many thanks to Mrs Patricia Baker, the principal of Cerdon College and Mrs Roslyn Mahrous for the wonderful way in which they have organised tonight and also to the staff and students of Cerdon College for the hospitality they have shown to all of us.

Our evening together is now concluded. Please drive home safely. God bless and we will meet again for Debating 2014.