Elias Toparis has been named the 'Youth of the Year' in a public speaking quest organised by the Goulburn Lions Club.
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The Mulwaree High School student won both the overall prize and the public speaking prize. The other participants were Mina Gerges from Mulwaree High, Ashleigh Deaton and Holly Caffery from Goulburn High, and Claire Pettit from Trinity.
School representatives, parents and Lions members watched on as the public speaking section included prepared and impromptu speeches. The students spoke for two minutes about a person who has influenced them the most. They were also asked in what way are Australian youth better or worse off than their parents. Later they presented five-minute prepared speeches.
Elias argued that politics was "filling the void of religion for many young people today".
The students had also attended personal interviews before the judges on February 16. The judges included Jean Lloyd, Greg Moore and Varun Bajaj.
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