PROVINCE 21 PUBLIC Speaking and Debating Award
Public Speaking
In 2011, to mark the 40th Anniversary of the formation of City of Sydney Circle, Australia’s foundation Circle, its inaugural President, Brother Plunket Sweeney, sponsored a project pursuing the Association’s Aim of advancing the interests of Catholic young people through supporting competitive public speaking.
For Catholic schools operating in Diocese within the greater Sydney area public speaking and debating competitions are conducted by the Catholic Schools Debating Association (CSDA), an association of around forty systemic, congregational and independent Catholic schools.
After discussions with the Catholic Schools’ Debating Association (CSDA), the Circle endowed a perpetual trophy, named The Catenian Shield, to be awarded to the school represented by the winner of the Senior Division of the CSDA Public Speaking Competition. The Circle continues its support for Catholic young people through ongoing engagement with CSDA to sustain the award.
Debating
Following the maturing of Diocese-based debating competitions in regional NSW; CSDA has become the organizing body for the NSW Catholic Schools State Debating Competition. This event brings together the winners of the Metropolitan debating competition and the winners of the debating competitions conducted by NSW regional Diocesan education offices.
To mark the 50th Anniversary of the formation of the Association in Australia, Province 21 Council endowed a perpetual trophy, also named The Catenian Shield, to be awarded to the school whose debating team is the winner of the Senior Division of the NSW Catholic Schools State Debating Competition. The Council has agreed to sustain the award through the presentation of memento Shields for at least five years.
