“Like many, I used to hate public speaking, but now I love it. This passion took me to Hobart in February to compete in three public speaking contests for Toastmasters, an international organisation that helps people become better communicators and leaders. I joined Spirit of Devonport Toastmasters in 2019 to practise my communication skills.
I placed second in the Humorous Speech, delivering a 7-minute structured speech. I came third in the Impromptu Speaking contest, where you respond immediately to a prompt with a 2-minute mini-speech. I won the Evaluation contest, where participants give 2-3 minutes of feedback on a live speech. It is a great experience to compete against members from other clubs, and a little bit more testing of the nerves at State level! I’m now through to the semi-final in Melbourne, competing against top speakers from Tasmania and Victoria.
My favourite aspect of local Toastmasters meetings is constantly learning from other members’ speeches. Members discuss topics ranging from work to hobbies to random research. People join for various reasons: overcoming fear of public speaking, needing to give presentations at work or events, preparing for interviews, or improving everyday communication. Toastmasters International has a great education program, and we get lots of practice at the fortnightly club meetings. Another highlight is seeing people constantly improve, which really shows the value of the Toastmasters initiative.
Anyone is welcome to attend our meetings to see what Toastmasters is about (contest are just one optional aspect). We always receive feedback about being a friendly and supportive group, so don’t be shy – there is no pressure to participate! Search for Devonport Toastmasters and you’ll find our contact details.
I never imagined I would enjoy speech contests, but thanks to Toastmasters, this has been an annual opportunity to challenge myself and improve my skills.”
