Communicating at speaking events such as the Festival of Speech grew my ability to articulate ideas and opinions passionately and confidently; a skill that translates handily into my classes and leadership at school. Speech has broadened not only my knowledge, but my curiosity, and had this effect even outside of the speech world!
The concept of a Festival of Speech for AHIGS was first mooted in the early 1990s by Mr Chris Faisandier, then Principal of Kincoppal – Rose Bay and member of AHIGS.
As Principal of Sacred Heart College in New Zealand, Mr Faisandier was involved with the O’Shea Shield Competition in which about twenty schools from the lower North Island of New Zealand participated.
The purpose of the O’Shea Shield Competition was to encourage students to develop skills in the areas of public speaking, debating, analysis and rhetoric. So popular was the Competition and so high was the standard of presentation, that the winners of the O’Shea Shield were often featured on New Zealand television.
With the support of the AHIGS membership, Mr Faisandier established the Festival of Speech (then known as the Independent Girls Schools Speaking Competition) in NSW in 1996. The inaugural Festival, spanning Friday evening and all day Saturday, was hosted by Kincoppal – Rose Bay and attended by some fifteen schools.
Today the Festival continues to be hosted annually by an AHIGS member’s school. Some twenty-seven schools now participate and students have the opportunity to perform in the areas of drama, debating, poetry, prose readings, current affairs and religious and ethical questions. The Festival is open to girls from years seven to eleven and offers an important focal point for skill development, personal expression, teamwork and friendship.
1996 – Kincoppal – Rose Bay
1997 – MLC School
1998 – Queenwood
1999 – St Catherine’s
2000 – Pymble Ladies’ College
2001 – Santa Sabina
2002 – Kincoppal – Rose Bay and Kambala
2003 – Abbotsleigh
2004 – Kambala and Kincoppal – Rose Bay
2005 – MLC School, Santa Sabina and Kambala
2006 – PLC Sydney
2007 – St Catherine’s School
2008 – Meriden and Santa Sabina
2009 – Loreto Kirribilli
2010 – Meriden
2011 – Abbotsleigh
2012 – Ravenswood
2013 – PLC Sydney
2014 – OLMC
2015 – Wenona
2016 – Abbotsleigh
2017 – Tara
2018 – Brigidine St Ives
2019 – Meriden School
2020 – Online due to COVID
2021 – Online due to COVID
2022 – Pymble Ladies’ College
2023 – Ravenswood