FOR the second consecutive year, Brody Taylor has reached the finals of the Rotary Public Speaking Awards.
This annual competition involves a four-tiered process: club, area, semi-finals, and finals.
The 2025 finals will take place in Coffs Harbour on November 22, with four students vying for the award.
“I love public speaking and my speech is a testimony to my public speaking journey,” Brody told News Of The Area.
“I make the case in my speech that love it or hate it, public speaking is an essential life skill.”
Mo Hjorth, a past president of the Rotary Club and a local performer, has been mentoring Brody.
“In the time I have known Brody, I have witnessed his transformation from a capable speaker to a professional, polished speaker,” Mo said.
“He has no problems keeping an audience engaged.”
Brody said public speaking has made a “permanent change” in his life.
“I didn’t talk much before, but once I began public speaking I gained more confidence.”
The competition requires participants to deliver both a pre-prepared and impromptu speech.
“We are given two minutes to prepare,” Brody said of the latter.
“I love it when the topic allows for some comedy.”
During the semi-finals, Brody learned about Rotary’s Global Polio Eradication initiative.
“I was really intrigued by the idea that polio is nearly eradicated and impressed by the work that Rotary has been doing for this cause.”
After hearing about Rotary’s efforts, Brody decided to contribute.
“I thought about how I could help and came up with the idea to shave my head to raise funds and run a kilometre for every $10 donated.”
Brody persuaded three friends – Dylan Crossley, Phineas Hester, and Troy McBride – to join him in his fundraising quest.
“Our goal is $5,000. If we reach that, we’ll be pretty fit,” Brody mused.
The four young men will shave their heads during Rotary District 9660’s Annual Meeting at Krambach on Tuesday, 25 November.
A GoFundMe page, https://gofund.me/b454f565f, has been set up, with all funds going towards the Global Polio Eradication initiative.
By Wendy BUSWELL
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