This softly spoken 16-year-old knows how to craft an argument and deliver it with panache.
St Monica’s College student Eliza Geraghty has won the Debaters Association of Victoria’s Swannie Award as ‘best debater’ in Melbourne’s northern region.
To win the award she had to have the highest average score after at least three debates against schools around the state this year.
Ms Geraghty, of Mill Park, says she hopes to use her oratory skills later in life as a social worker for the Department of Health and Human Services, working closely with children and teenagers.
To date, her favourite debate has been about whether capital punishment should be reintroduced in Australia.
It was a “secret topic”; students were told of it only about an hour before they had to debate it earlier this year. They were not allowed computers, phones or electronic equipment to help them research and formulate their ideas and opinions.
“I really enjoyed it, but it was also one of the hardest because it’s such a sensitive topic,” Ms Geraghty said.
The year 11 student said she was indebted to her parents and the school for allowing her to take debating to a competitive level.
St Monica’s College principal Brian Hanley was thrilled Ms Geraghty’s skills were being recognised outside the school.
“Eliza is a very competent public speaker and debater who relishes the challenges presented by debating,” he said.
“Her consistently high level of presentation is a credit to her.”
The Swannie awards are named after Alan Swanwick, a world-renowned Victorian debater and adjudicator.
