This competition was part of the Region Three Youth of the Year Final which was hosted by the Lions Club of Manning River on March 10.

Port Macquarie student, Isobel Berryman from McKillop College, was named Regionl Three Youth of the Year and will compete at the District Final in Gunnedah on March 24.

Two students from Taree and two from Port Macquarie were interviewed by three judges in the afternoon of the region final and took part in a public speaking competition at St Mary’s Hall, Taree in front of an audience of more than 60 in the evening.

The four, Isobel Berryman, Sarah Hammond from Taree High School, Marylyn Sendah and Youssef Youssef from St Columba High School in Port Macquarie impressed the judges and audience alike. All four showed a deep commitment to their studies, communities, schools, families and friends.

The most taxing part of the day for the candidates would have to be the two impromptu questions for each of which the students have two minutes to answer with no time to prepare their responses. On Saturday evening the students were asked

Having survived this, the students were allowed to relax and enjoy their dinner before presenting their five minute prepared speeches.

All the speeches were excellent making the job of the judges very difficult indeed. Isobel spoke on “Happiness”, Sarah on “Dance”, Marylyn on “Advances in Communication Technology” and Youssef on “Justice”.

The overall winner, Isobel Berryman had been sponsored by Port Macquarie Club with Marylyn Sendah, sponsored by Manning River Lions.

At the District Final in Gunnedah Isolbel will compete against other students sponsored by Lions Clubs from the Queensland border in the north to Forster-Tuncurry in the south and west to Collarenebri.

A spokesman said Region Three Lions would have been proud to have had any of the candidates be its representative in Gunnedah. “We all wish Isobel all the best for the final and hope that she progresses to the State Final to be held in Bankstown during April.”