In amazing and extraordinary news, Scots student, Marcus Nguyen (Year 12) has just won the illustrious, challenging, and intensely demanding, 2022 Lawrence Campbell Oratory Competition!
The Lawrence Campbell Oratory Competition is – by far – the most difficult of all the student speaking contests. This highly competitive and prestigious competition, open only to Great Public Schools and Combined Associated Schools, has taken place annually for more than 80 years.
Each year, Scots invites boys to try out to be the Lawrence Campbell Orator. Historically, Scots has had three wins. In 2017, Joe Bonic (’17) carried the cup away. Anthony Jones (’00) won it twice – in 1999 and 2000.
The challenge lies in speakers having just 15 minutes to prepare an impromptu speech of eight minutes. Sound easy? Not at all. The topics (competitors can select from three) are usually generic and philosophical in nature. Judges look for style, intellect, humour and an original view of an issue. The speech a student presents is a real test of the student’s general knowledge and ingenuity, and they must engage the audience.
Major Australian public figures feature in the history of this trophy: former Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull (Sydney Grammar School); 11th Chief Justice of Australia, Murray Gleeson (St Joseph’s College); former Premier of New South Wales, Nick Greiner (St Ignatious’ College, Riverview); and author, comedian and former ABC broadcaster, Adam Spencer (St Aloysius College).
