Meeting the formidable Sydney Girls’ High School, who were Runners Up in last year’s competition, the Rose Bay team put forward a strong argument for the affirmative, “That we should stop having a prime minister”. The Sydney Girls’ team’s defence, however, was compelling and their experience as year 12 debaters was clear. Ultimately, they were announced the victors in this highly esteemed competition.
The Rose Bay Secondary team, however, was incredible in representing themselves within the Year 11/12 competition, as the team had only one year 11 student - Benjamin. The other team members were Ellie and Holly, in year 10 and remarkably, year 8 student, Doug. The team won eight straight debates to reach this state final, while Sydney Girls High also won eight debates, but had to use their second chance life, following a loss in their fourth debate to James Ruse Agricultural High School.
This competition began as the Hume Barbour/English Union Debating Competition in 1930. It is open to teams of four senior students in government schools throughout the state. The competition is proudly supported by the Law School of the University of Sydney. All debates in the competition have a one-hour preparation period followed by speeches of eight minutes with a warning bell after six minutes. Teams were organised into knockout finals draw, with each team having one life which they could use to stay in the competition if they lost a debate in the first four rounds. From round 5 onwards, teams competed in sudden-death debates to reach the state final.
