The Frankston Susono Friendship Association held its annual Japanese Speech Contest at Monash Peninsula Campus on Friday 1st September. The Association is a group of volunteer citizens who administer Frankston’s sister city relationship with Susono, Shizuoka in Japan on behalf of the Frankston City Council. FSFA have worked to promote Japanese culture, the study of Japanese language plus student and cultural exchanges since the sister city relationship was established in February 1982.
The Association invited students from local primary and secondary schools to this year’s contest and 53 entries were received. Contestants were required to recite a short self-introduction followed by a set piece based on the folktale story of Kasajizō (Straw Hats for the Jizō) and were judged by a panel of Japanese speakers. Contestants competed in Lower Primary, Upper Primary, Japanese Environment (Primary), Junior Secondary, Intermediate Secondary and Senior Secondary divisions.
FSFA Chairperson
Julie D’Arcy welcomed all contestants, their parents and teachers before
explaining the work undertaken by the Association and the importance of the
annual contest in promoting the teaching of Japanese language in our local
schools.
The evening’s
program started with the 3 primary divisions and 34 excited and nervous contestants
presenting before the judging panel. Individual trophies were awarded to the
top three students in each division, with the top contestant in each division
also awarded a perpetual trophy which is displayed with pride at their school
for the next 12 months.
Results:
Lower
Primary (Prep to Year 3):
1st Charlotte S (Derinya Primary School)
2nd Hannah R (Overport Primary School)
3rd Grace M (Derinya Primary School)
Commendation Award: Max W (Derinya Primary School)
Upper
Primary (Years 4 to 6):
1st Zara T (Haileybury)
2nd Lucy S (Derinya Primary School)
3rd Lucy U (Derinya Primary School)
Japanese
Environment (Primary):
1st Mae F (Overport Primary School)
2nd Hannah F (Overport Primary School)
3rd Leah (Overport Primary School)
Commendation Award: Lydia T (Bayside Christian College)
Primary Division Trophy Winners with FSFA Chairperson Julie D'Arcy
The secondary schools
followed with students presenting a more detailed self-introduction and set
piece or Japanese themed topic in each of the 3 divisions. At the conclusion of
these speeches Committee member, former exchange student to Susono and
judge Sam Warrington commented on the impressive standard of all contestants
and recognized the enormous challenge of memorizing and presenting a speech in
the Japanese language, especially given that the senior division students are
required to write, memorize and present a 3-to-5-minute speech on a topic of
their choice.
Results:
Junior
(Years 7 & 8):
1st Lakeesha H (Hillcrest Christian College)
2nd Evette P (Hillcrest Christian College)
3rd Thehan K (Haileybury)
Commendation Award: Christopher T (Haileybury)
Intermediate
(Years 9 & 10):
1st Rhitt C (Nossal High School)
2nd Kimberley I (Nossal High School)
3rd Alyssa L (Frankston High School)
Senior
(Years 11 & 12):
1st Jorden L (Frankston High School)
2nd Oscar M (Frankston High School)
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| Secondary Division Trophy Winners with FSFA Chairperson Julie D'Arcy |
A special thank you to our panel of judges for assisting at this year’s contest; the teachers for their hours of hard work preparing their students; and the parents and families for their attendance, encouragement and support. Finally, our appreciation to Monash Peninsula Campus for making such a wonderful venue available to our Association and the hard-working members of the FSFA Committee for organising and running another successful Japanese Speech Contest.
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| Judges with Senior Division Contestants Jorden and Oscar |
