It would be hard to find another person who delivers speeches around the Manning with more enthusiasm, emphasis, passion and heart than Amber Kelleher.
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The Taree High School captain has received widespread adulation from her peers and community following numerous speeches made at public events such as Australia Day and Anzac Day.
Her skills were on full display during the 2021 Lions Youth of the Year competition.
Representing Taree Lions Club, Amber progressed through the club and regional levels to reach the district final, hosted by Forster-Tuncurry Lions Club last month.
Here Amber was awarded the 201N1 Lions district public speaking award. To put that into perspective, the district covers almost 70 Lions clubs from the Great Lakes to the Northern Rivers and New England area.
Amber, along with the other contestants, had to deliver two ad lib speeches and a prepared speech.
The ad lib speeches related to how Australia has dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic and the significance of Anzac Day.
Amber followed up with her prepared speech on the history of words.
"It was about etymology, which is a word I learnt from someone after I did the speech," Amber said.
The overall Youth of the Year winner was Kori Eaton from Yamba. He now moves on to the State final.
Amber said she enjoyed the experience.
"I liked speaking to other kids in the area, that was really interesting," Amber said.
"I was able to talk to a lot of people with similar outlooks and experiences."
She couldn't pinpoint where her passion for public speaking came from.
"I just like talking to people and I like sharing knowledge," Amber said
"I enjoy being able to share stuff I like."
Unsurprisingly, Amber's favourite school subject is English.
"I do four units of English... that's like half my timetable there," Amber smiled.
Her leadership role at the school has given her plenty of public speaking practice.
Amber is currently hosting a program on 2BOB community radio and has career aspirations to work with ABC.
"I want to work in radio and a job where I get to speak to people...but I don't know what that's going to look like yet," Amber said.
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