The Justice Michael Kirby Plain Speaking Competition is an annual event presented by the University of Sydney Union. The competition provides an opportunity for students to show off their public speaking skills in front of an adjudication panel and captive audience.

 

Michael Kirby is one of the country’s most eminent jurists and distinguished alumnus of this University.  As a student, Kirby was an outstanding advocate for students’ rights and served as president of both the Union and the SRC (the only person who has ever done so).

 

His career in the law has been equally impressive.  As a barrister, President of the NSW Court of Appeal and as a justice of the High Court of Australia, Kirby has been an outspoken advocate of individual rights, the rule of law and accessibility of the spoken word.

 

The Union is proud of this on-going association with such an eminent “old boy”.
 

The 2008 Kirby Cup was a fantastic and very entertaining event. Heats were held during week 8 where 10 speakers were selected to go through to the Semi Final. From this highly competitive round (held in Week 10), five speakers qualified for the Grand Final which took place on Thursday 29 May in the Refectory. 

 

Distinguished alumnus, The Hon. Justice Michael Kirby (USU President 1964/5) attended the Grand Final and gave a speech entitled “Rambles and Recollections.”

 

The Kirby Cup was won by Law student Rob Clark who spoke on the topic ‘Too many cooks’.

 

Congratulations to all competitors – we hope to see you involved again next year.

 

Speaking of next year, if you think you’ve got the pubic speaking skills worth of Justice Michael Kirby, you should keep an eye out for the Justice Michael Kirby Plain Speaking Competition.

 

Heats will take place in approximately Weeks 8 and 9 with the Grand Final in Week 12. 

You will be judged on your delivery of 2 speeches: a prepared speech and an impromptu speech. Prepared speeches will be 4 – 5 minutes and are chosen by you from one of the topics below. For your impromptu speech, you will be given 5 minutes preparation time to deliver a 3 minute speech. Each heat has a different impromptu topic which will be announced on the day.

 

For further information regarding the Kirby Cup, please email