June 10, 2025
Two South Burnett women excelled at a recent joint QCWA / Toastmasters event held at Hervey Bay.
A Public Speaking and an Interpretative Reading contest were included as part of the QCWA Central Region conference on May 30-31.
In the Public Speaking competition, contestants delivered prepared speeches on selected topics followed by an impromptu speech on a surprise topic.
Sarah Greensill, from Proston, was crowned the winner after impressing the judges and audience alike with her confident speech and clear message.
The Interpretive Reading contest challenged participants to bring a written piece to life through vocal expression and storytelling skills.
Robinlyn Sinclair, from Wondai, won this category, captivating listeners with an expressive rendition of a children’s book.
Sarah and Robinlyn will now advance to the State-level QCWA competition in Cairns on October 27.
The QCWA Central Region conference attracted about 100 attendees from communities across the region, including Bundaberg, Gympie, Hervey Bay, Maryborough, Proston, Nambour and Kingaroy.
“The supportive QCWA atmosphere and the calibre of speeches proved how transformative public speaking can be for women – it’s a catalyst for confidence, community leadership, and lasting change,” Maryborough Toastmaster Deb Barnett said.
Deb was one of three Toastmasters members judging on the day.
“Our Toastmasters team was proud to be part of this journey. The energy and support from the audience were tremendous, and this collaboration truly showcased the best of what our organisations can achieve together,” she said.
Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational organisation that builds confidence and teaches public speaking skills through a worldwide network of clubs that meet online and in person.
The South Burnett Toastmasters Club meets from 7:00pm on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Thursday of every month at the Kingaroy RSL Club.
