8 August 2008

On Friday, August 8, Smiths Hill High School and James Ruse Agricultural High School debated the merits of local governments in Australia as part of the State Final of the Premiers Debating Challenge for Year 11 and 12 for the Hume Barbour/ESU Trophy. The final was held in the Great Hall at the University of Sydney and was well attended with some three hundred people present in the audience.

In 2008 there were 169 participating teams and all debated civics related topics in the competition. The topics were developed by the NSW Department of Education & Training Arts Unit in conjunction with the Constitution Education Fund Australia (CEFA).  

CEFA is proud to be the primary sponsor of this prestigious event, giving young people the opportunity to develop into informed, knowledgeable and active citizens through debating civics and other issues of importance to their community. CEFA was represented at the debate by The Honourable Justice Barry O’Keefe AM QC, Chairman of Trustees. At the conclusion of the debate Mr O’Keefe spoke highly of the performance given by students from both schools and congratulated both for enlightening the audience with their sophisticated arguments on the topic of local governments. 

Smiths Hill High School emerged as the winner and was awarded the Hume Barbour/ESU trophy for 2008. Mr O’Keefe had the pleasure of presenting students from both schools with their medals. He congratulated the Department of Education for coordinating the final and stated CEFA’s desire to continue its ongoing support of this worthy program.