Gifted way with words

Staff ReporterWanneroo Times

The 15-year-old St Stephen’s School student was the third place winner of the 2013 My First Speech competition, which asked Year 10 to 12 students throughout Australia to write and present a speech as if they had been elected to the House of Representatives.

Jacob’s in-depth discussion on how the financial issues faced by small businesses and individuals today would impact on future generations, managed to win over the judging panel, which included federal MPs Gai Brodtmann, Alby Schultz and political reporter Mark Riley.

He travelled to Canberra last week to present his speech at Australia’s Parliament House as part of the 25th Anniversary Open Day.

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‘I’m part of the school’s debating team and I like to keep an eye out on what’s going on in the world. The issues are important and will affect us in the future,’ Jacob said.

Speaker of the HOR Anne Burke said the essence of a great first speech was to present universal issues through the concerns, hopes and aspirations of the people you represent.