On Monday 26 May 2025, Year 12 student Thomas Maguire-Nguyen competed in The Rotary Club of Richmond’s 35th Annual Ainger Peck Public Speaking Award. This award was held after a preliminary round of heats where just 10 finalists from schools all around Melbourne were successful in making it to the final award night.
Tom competed against 9 students from schools including Trinity Grammar, Melbourne Grammar, Mentone Grammar, Huntingtower, St. Kevin’s College, Avila College and Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School.
All students had to present a 4 minute speech on a topic of their choice, whereby they were assessed on their ability to speak directly to, and engage, an audience.
In absolutely outstanding news, Tom’s speech on the detriments within the aged care system won 1st place!
This is a huge win for both Tom and Salesian. He received a monetary prize, an inscribed winner’s medallion, and his name on the perpetual trophy. Salesian will house the Ainger Peck Public Speaking Award trophy after it is engraved, and both our school’s name and Tom’s name will be permanently part of the engravings and all documentation for the award in future years.
Stephen Yolland, the head adjudicator who was the British Public Speaking Champion and has worked in politics in the UK, said “You can’t go home and not think about it,” when delivering the feedback to Tom’s speech.
Congratulations to Thomas Maguire-Nguyen on this impressive accomplishment!
