This week a quiet little local program celebrates its 20
th anniversary. Every year the
Yarrambat Historical Society has partnered with the
Yarrambat Primary School for its Grade 6 historical speeches program.
Students write and present a Historical Speech on either an aspect of
the local community or the history of a family member. Children
research and gather information about their topic in readiness for
writing their speech in the classroom. The speeches are then delivered
over three nights to an audience of family and friends as part of a
competition run in conjunction with The Yarrambat Historical Society.
Three judges listen to the speeches and provide personal comments and
feedback at the end of the evening on presentation of their
participation certificate. The Phil Rufels Award is later presented at a
school assembly as well as highly commended and commended awards. Phil
Rufels was a former School Council President (now deceased) who assisted
in implementing the program.
I had the privilege of being invited to judge the students speeches
this week and was impressed by the high standard of the students
presentations. Topics included the local histories of Plenty, Doreen,
Whittlesea and the Diamond Creek Force Netball Association, personal
family histories often concentrating on a grandparent or great
grandparent and their arrival into Australia post World War 2 and/or
their war service.
For many of the students who explored people in their family history
it was the first opportunity they had to ask questions and gather oral
history. A number of students mentioned that they learned things they
had never known before. Many students were obviously inspired by the
hardships and tough times that their family members had to endure,
including tales of war time experience.
One student spoke about the Australian airman Charles Kingsford
Smith, another whose ancestor was a champion boat racer at Cambridge
University, another who had wood choppers in his family. Another had a
powerful title and introduction “Tattslotto you don’t want to win” that
grabbed everyone’s attention – relating to Vietnam War service.
One of my co judges was a past student of YPS. Now a local secondary
school teacher, he has returned to his primary school every year for
the past ten years to support the program.
Students actually start their preparation in Grade 5 and I heard a
whisper in the evening break, that one student had already chosen her
topic for the following year.
I am told that this is a very unique program offered at Yarrambat. I
hope that after 20 years its success may inspire other primary schools
to partner with their local history group and start a long running
tradition locally and encourage students to tell their local stories.
Congratulations to all involved in the 2012 program.
