Speaking 4 the Planet
On World Environment Day, Wednesday 5 June 2024, half a dozen students represented MLC School in the Speaking 4 the Planet (S4P) competition at Domremy College.
S4P is a very impressive competition organised superbly by Old Girl Robin Smith (1968) in her role with the Burwood Inner West Climate Action Group. Only the best entries from each school are shown at the competition, with inner west schools including Santa Sabina, St Patrick’s College, PLC Croydon, Burwood Girls, Homebush Boys, amongst others entering the fray. Judges include professionals (eg. artists), politicians (this year including the Inner West Council Mayor), and council officers (eg. from Burwood and Strathfield Councils). Prizes range from things like art supplies through to $100 Westfield gift vouchers for category winners.
Entries are prepared by students on a theme. This year it was ‘Journey to a Greener Future’. Categories are speaking (three minutes), writing (a crisp 30 words only), visual art, digital art, and drama.
The MLC School community can be proud of all our entrants across a range of categories, including Allegra (Year 10) in visual art and Jocelyn (Year 9) in digital art.
I’m happy to report that podium finishes were achieved by:
- Elena (Year 10) 2nd place in speech, with the chief judge (a toast master champion herself) seeking out Elena at the end of the event to tell her how impressed she was with her excellently crafted speech on the journey of a pair of jeans from cotton farm to post-wearing.
- Serena (Year 10) 2nd place in writing, with her evocative entry of:
‘In the whispers of the wind where leaves dance, we venture to a greener horizon. Let our words be the seeds that sow change, cultivating a world where nature thrives.’ - Joanne (Year 9) 3rd place judged in digital art but first place in the people’s choice awards with her entry titled ‘A Green Pathway Forward’:
‘This conceptual composite of photo realism and graphic design contrasts a polluted landscape with a hopeful future. The visual narrative begins with a grim scene of environmental degradation, symbolising the consequences of unsustainable practices. A vibrant green pathway, marked with recycling icons, cuts through this, representing collective action towards sustainability. The path leads to a city adorned with renewable energy, harmoniously embracing nature within and around. This artwork communicates a powerful message about our environmental responsibilities and the possibility of a sustainable future.’
- Angela (Year 9) 1st place in writing.
‘In our commitment to a brighter tomorrow, every step is a promise to the Earth, every choice a pledge to nurture. Let’s create a path of sustainability and hope.’
And here is the text of Angela’s supporting speech:
‘In my call to action, I aimed to evoke an emotional response from the reader by drawing attention to real world issues, such as environmental pollution and carbon footprint. By emphasising the urgency and personal responsibility in addressing these challenges that we face globally, I intend to encourage the reader to take action and contribute to creating a more sustainable future.’
On the day students attending gave their speeches, performed their plays, and engaged with crowds in an art gallery walk. They also spent time in workshops mixed in with students from the other schools, discussing practical sustainability solutions that each school can do. A final major thing the students enjoyed on the day was listening to members of parliament and from people working professionally in the field of sustainability. This year a guest speaker was Josh Dykgraaf who produces awe-inspiring digital art (see https://www.joshdykgraaf.com/) including the following:
– Paul Batten
Assistant Head of Department – HSIE