Towards the end of Term 2, our 10B MISA Debating team had been anxiously preparing for their Grand Final debate against Broughton Anglican College. This team consists of Ava M, Ruby K, Holly B and Grace Q. In training, the squad had been researching the general topic area of ‘Growing Up’, and had been working on applying their feedback from previous adjudications.

At the debate, our girls proposed that one’s genetics were merely a starting point that could easily be swayed by environmental factors, using examples of Atticus from To Kill a Mockingbird, as well as real life examples such as privileged Nepotism babies, and disadvantaged marginalised communities. Broughton’s case centred around the essential nature of genetics in determining your temperament and health, arguing that this has a greater impact on overall outcomes than environment. 

After the third negative gave their closing speech, it was decision time. Every person in the room turned to the screen, hearts pounding, as they listened to the feedback. The adjudicator asserted that this was an excellent grand final debate, with impressive ideas and rebuttals from both teams. She suggested that avoiding generalisations be areas for improvement, but was overall incredibly impressed with the quality she saw from our young speakers. She announced that our 10B were the winners of the debate, crowning them Grand Champions of the 2023 MISA Debating Season.

Congratulations to Ava M, Ruby K, Holly B and Grace Q for their wonderful achievements in MISA Debating. It has been a pleasure to watch each of them grow together as a team. Thank you to all students and staff present for their support of our debaters - it means the world to the team. We are ecstatic with what this team has achieved.

Laura Bryannie - Debating Coordinator