Toasting a century

Dunedin Toastmasters Club members (back row, from left) Cherryl Joubert, Jeanene O’Keefe, Campbell Thomson, Melissa Mains, Mel Bentley, (middle row) Phillip Cowley (front row, from left) Mel Warhurst, Ray Leckie and Esther Haines at the Otago Pioneer Women’s Hall in Moray Pl yesterday celebrate 100 years of Toastmasters.

It was business as usual with lunchtime speeches, albeit with the addition of party hats and balloons, Toastmasters public relations representative Mel Bentley said.

"The 22nd marks 100 years since the first Toastmasters meeting ever."

The first meeting was in the United States, but the first Dunedin meeting was not held until 40 years ago.

"We have someone doing a prepared speech then were giving everyone a chance to speak, impromptu."

Lunchtime Toastmasters is held every Wednesday and is free to attend.