DEBATING SCHEDULE 2024
DATES: 19 April – 26 April 2024
ENTRIES: CLOSING DATE: 1st March 2024
ADJUDICATORS: Mr Robert Coffey (Primary including Primary Impromptu, Yrs11/12) and Mr Greg Allison (Yrs 7/8, 9/10, both Secondary Impromptu sections)
Convenors: Mr Robert Coffey (Yrs 7/8, 9/10, and both Secondary Impromptu) and Mr Greg Allison (Primary and Primary Impromptu, Yrs11/12)
VENUE: Mozart Hall, Merri Street, Warrnambool
CONTACT: Robert Coffey – email: robertcoffey2@gmail.com ph 0428 529271
Greg Allison – email: gallison49@me.com ph 0400 664457
Entries are received online at www.stardom.com.au
Organising teachers please register yourself with your own login details and then your teams in the Warrnambool Eisteddfod debating competition. If you have difficulty utilising the site, please email us the details of your teams and we shall enter them and send an invoice directly to your school. We shall endeavour to have the programme completed and sent out to schools by 8th March 2024.
NO ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE CLOSING DATE of 1st March 2024 UNLESS AN INTENTION TO ENTER HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY THE CONVENORS PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE ( such as an email or phone call). TEACHERS MAY WISH TO ENTER TEAMS (e.g. Timboon Dragons, Student 1, Student 2 etc.) ON STARDOM AND SEND STUDENT NAMES AT A LATER DATE.
GENERAL CONDITIONS:
*******It is a requirement that each individual performer, group or school, permit the recording of performance by the City of Warrnambool Eisteddfod Society for promotional purposes (unless there is a specific reason for exemption).
See, “Recording of Performance Release” page.
NOTE: Recorded performances will only be used for advertising the Eisteddfod and will remain the copyright of The City of Warrnambool Eisteddfod Society Inc.
Perpetual trophies are awarded for School Debating sections, as well as a medallion for best debater of each Section. In each section the team awarded the highest points is the winner of the section.
All debating teams are to be entered through a school or organisation.
Teams to include 3 speakers and a reserve speaker who shall be timekeeper (Negative team) or Chairperson (Affirmative team.)
Topics and further information for debating will be available from the Convenors by 8th March 2024 and shall be emailed to the nominated contact at schools.
THE LAUREL LANGDON AWARD OF A TROPHY & $100.00 WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE MOST OUTSTANDING DEBATER. The winner of this award will be selected by the adjudicators after the Debating competition is finished.
Please Note:
- The affirmative team is to provide a chairperson for each debate.
- The negative team is to provide a timekeeper for each debate.
- A speaker will lose points for being under time or over time.
- Check if your team is affirmative or negative. If the incorrect case is prepared, the team will be able to debate but will be at a severe disadvantage.
- In the event of illness, a student may stand in as a substitute, but they are ineligible to speak twice on the same debate topic, from the same position ( affirmative/negative ) and from the same speaking order ( first, second, third ). A whole team may therefore be substituted, provided no speaker repeats the debate, speaking from the same position. The debaters and team will not be penalised by the adjudicator, and points awarded will count for individual and school honours.
- Medallions will also be awarded to both teams in each section of the competition adjudged by the adjudicator to have produced “the best debate.”
- Convenors are willing to assist school debating teams. Please contact them if you would like assistance. Sections 221 and 227 are quite new competitions and the convenors expect calls for assistance and explanation of how the competition operates.
- Etiquette requires that seated debaters on stage do not interrupt the speaker who has the floor, by any means drawing attention to themselves and away from the speaker. It is rude and discourteous and may earn a team’s disqualification from either the adjudicator or the convenor. Teachers are also advised that their students seated in the audience are under their supervision and are expected to be courteous and attentive when debates are in progress.
Teachers are advised that competitors who come from the following backgrounds can enter the competition at no cost. Their entrance fee shall be paid via a Grant supplied by the Warrnambool City Council. Eligible students are those who:
a) has a physical or intellectual disability; b) is a care giver to a parent or sibling or extended family member; c) belongs to a family which has a history of domestic violence or trauma; d) has a parent who suffers from addictive substances; e) has a parent or guardian who is unemployed; f) has a parent or guardian who is a refugee or asylum seeker; g) belongs to a family where English is the second language spoken at home; h) has a single parent or guardian; i) has a parent or guardian who is a Commonwealth Health Care card holder or is a pensioner; j) has Koori or Pacific Islander heritage; k) suffers from economic hardship
We ask only that you directly inform us of the number of students from your school whose entry fees shall be paid from the Council grant. We require no proof, and no names, simply your honesty.
IF A DEBATING TEAM IS WITHDRAWN, NO TEAM IS SUBSTITUTED AND THE DEBATE IS WON AND LOST BY WALKOVER/FORFEIT, SCHOOLS WHICH WITHDRAW WILL BE LIABLE TO A NON APPEARANCE FEE OF $50.