Lions Club International District 202J Young Speechmaker Contest judge Jim O’Gorman with winner Faith Aione-Falealili from Ashburton College. Photo supplied.When the Lions Clubs scoured from Rakaia to Dunedin looking for the top young speechmaker recently, it was an Ashburton College student who walked away as winner.

Faith Aione-Falealili, 18, will compete against the rest of New Zealand in Rangiora on August 4 after topping The Lions Club International District 202J Young Speechmaker Contest at Fenwick School, Oamaru.

In the event held last Sunday, contestants were required to give a prepared five-minute speech on a topic of their own choice, then a speech on the topic of “How can we deal with child poverty in New Zealand?”

Aione-Falealili was sponsored by the Ashburton Lions Club, and her own enthralling speech centred on Racism and the Bystander Effect, said the Lions Club’s Sally Woodhead.

Second placegetter was Michael McLeod from Otago University sponsored by the Balmacewen Lions Club and third was Anne Newmarch from Roncalli College who was sponsored by the Temuka District Lions Club.

An overall New Zealand winner will be chosen at the national competition to be held in Rangiora in August. The winner’s prize will be a four to six-week trip to the United States and Canada.

By Katie Todd © The Ashburton Guardian - 4 June 2018