Each year, as part of Toastmasters International’s mission to empower people to become more effective communicators and leaders, Toastmasters around the world compete in four contests — a prepared speech, a humorous speech, impromptu speaking and giving motivational, constructive feedback.
Contestants compete in their clubs, then against members of other local clubs and members of clubs from all over Otago and Southland to make the finals.
For the first time, the Southern representatives in the finals of all four public-speaking contests are all members of the Dunedin Toastmasters Club — president Craig McGregor and fellow club members Sonya Fenton, Madeleine Post and Douglas Fraser.
They will compete in the finals as part of the Toastmasters New Zealand conference, to be held from tomorrow to Sunday in Lower Hutt.
Mr McGregor will entertain the audience as part of the humorous-speaking contest, Ms Fenton will compete in the impromptu-speaking contest, Mr Fraser will give feedback to a test speaker and Ms Post will give a pre-prepared motivational speech.
Mr McGregor, a member of Dunedin Toastmasters Club for 15 years, was looking forward to returning for his seventh appearance at the national finals this weekend alongside his club colleagues.
"It’s going to be fun," he said.
Club publicity officer Sonya Fenton said the club was also excited for Ms Post, whose participation in the prepared-speech section could possibly lead to international success.
The winning speech from the prepared-speech contest will be judged against speeches from around New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei for the opportunity to compete in the World Championship of Public Speaking, to be held in the Bahamas in August.
