The Frankston
Susono Friendship Association held its annual Japanese Speech Contest at Monash
Peninsula Campus on Friday 4th 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 40 entries were received. Contestants were required to recite a
short self-introduction followed by a set piece based on the story of HachikÅ,
an Akita breed dog remembered for his strong loyalty to his owner, for whom he
continued to wait at Shibuya Station for almost ten years following his death
in 1925.
Contestants were
judged by a panel of Japanese speakers and competed in Lower Primary, Upper
Primary, Japanese Environment (Primary), Junior Secondary, Intermediate
Secondary, Japanese Environment (Secondary) and Senior Secondary divisions.
FSFA Vice-Chairperson
Simon Hast 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 24 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 at their school for the next
12 months.
Results:
Lower
Primary (Prep to Year 3):
1st Kai L (Derinya Primary School)
2nd Jensen H (Derinya Primary School)
3rd Issy R (Derinya Primary School)
Lower Primary Trophy Winners
Upper
Primary (Years 4 to 6):
1st Dylan F-K (Derinya Primary School)
2nd Max W (Derinya Primary School)
3rd Lewis McC (Derinya Primary School)
Upper Primary Trophy Winners
Japanese
Environment (Primary):
1st Noah L (Derinya Primary School)
2nd Kai dG (Overport Primary School)
Japanese Environment (Primary) Trophy Winners
The secondary schools
followed with students presenting a more detailed self-introduction and set
piece or Japanese themed topic in each of the 4 divisions. At the conclusion of
these speeches FSFA Committee member and MC for the night Therese Sakamoto spoke
on behalf of the judges noting the high 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 Matilda B (Frankston High School)
2nd Candice C (Frankston High School)
3rd Neetanya S (Hillcrest Christian College)
Junior Secondary Trophy Winners
Intermediate
(Years 9 & 10):
1st Nimar D (Hillcrest Christian College)
2nd Enrica L (Frankston High School)
3rd Joey S
(Frankston High School)
Intermediate Secondary Trophy Winners
Japanese
Environment (Secondary):
1st Aki O (Frankston High School)
2nd Mae F (Frankston High School)
Japanese Environment (Secondary) Trophy Winners
Senior
(Years 11 & 12):
1st Mitch K (Frankston High School)
2nd Diti G (Frankston High School)
3rd Lakeesha H (Hillcrest Christian College)
Senior Secondary Trophy Winners
Secondary School Trophy Winners
A special thank you to our panel of judges for assisting at this year’s contest; the teachers and language assistants for their hours of hard work preparing their students; and the parents and families for their attendance, encouragement and support. Finally, our appreciation and thanks to the hard-working members of the FSFA Committee for organising and running another successful Japanese Speech Contest.
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| Judges accepting gifts from Secondary Division Winners |
