Speakers impress on International Museum Day

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Dias Museum hosted their annual speech contest for Grade 10 and 11 learners yesterday, 18 May, which marks International Museum Day.

The competition is open to learners who study English as their first additional language.

Sixteen youthful speakers representing Curro Mossel Bay, Indwe Secondary School, Hillcrest Secondary School, Albertinia High School and Sao Bras High School impressed the adjudicators with their content and delivery.

The top five positions were taken by Chamare Caffoen (Sao Bras), Esethu Bhobhozayo (Indwe), Seria Pretorius (Curro), Ayabonga Hlumkeza (Hillcrest) and Arno Hugo (Curro).

These five learners will participate in the gala speech evening in September, marking Heritage Month.

Head adjudicator, Claire du Plessis commended the learners for their exceptional vocabulary used, given that English is not their first language.

Du Plessis has been involved with the speech contest for 13 years and is a seasoned public speaker herself.

Concluding last night's event, Harold Muller, chair of the museum management committee said what particularly struck him was the pleasant spirit in which the evening was conducted.

"There is a wonderful atmosphere tonight. We are all here, together and in good spirits. So different to what South Africa is looking like right now.

What we see here tonight, is what our country should be experiencing," Muller said.