Father and son win speech contest

Father and son Ian and Michael Bratt took a clean sweep at the Benoni Toastmasters Speech Contest on February 24, winning the contest in all three categories.

The categories included the international speech contest, impromptu speech contest and evaluation contest where contestants first listen to a demonstration speech and then provide their evaluation of the demonstration speaker.

Ian won the international and impromptu speech contests while Michael won the evaluation contest.

Ian, who is also the club’s treasurer, has encouraged all club members to take part in this contest next year as this helps them become great speakers.

“Taking part in speech contests is a great way to ‘up your game’. Usually in Toastmasters, we are merely competing against ourselves and trying to meet the specific objectives of an assignment.

“Contest speaking takes it to a new level where you are competing with the best speakers in your club, area, division or district.

“It pushes you to go the extra mile and to be the very best speaker you can be. I would encourage all club members to participate next year. You have nothing to lose, everything to gain and you might just surprise yourself,” he said.

The results were as follows:

International speech contest:

• 1st Ian Bratt

• 2nd Michael Bratt

• 3rd Netsai Bingepinge

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Impromptu Speech Contest (Table Topics):

• 1st Ian Bratt

• 2nd Michael Bratt

• 3rd Andrew Fleming

Evaluation contest:

• 1st Michael Bratt

• 2nd Dave Walls

• 3rd Ian Bratt

The winner of each contest will represent the Benoni Toastmasters Club in a speech contest that will take place on April 7.

What is Toastmasters?

Toastmasters is a non-profit educational organisation that operates globally to promote communication, public speaking and leadership.

It was founded in 1924 by Ralph C Smedley who had been mentoring young men in Santa Ana, California, to improve their communication skills. The club was incorporated into Californian law in 1932.

Benoni Toastmasters

The Benoni Toastmasters – Club 1315 was established on September 1, 1977.

President Benjamin de Witte describes the club as an active, vibrant and engaging organisation that is ready to take your personal development to the next level. The club is open to anyone interested and is situated at Benoni Lake Club on Cnr Edward and Divot Street.

To join, contact De Witte on 081 895 4823 or vpm-1315@toastmastersclubs.org.

Also Read: Residents excel at Toastmasters contest