The Lion’s Club of Coleambally hosted the annual Youth of the Year Quest. The local club has been hosting the event since 1981 and over that time 140 contestants have taken part.

This year five students from Coleambally Central School took on the challenge. They were Hannah Kelly, Laura Gardiner, Will Brain, Ellie Brain and Helena McCalman.

The participants were put through their paces over two events. The first event held on Sunday, February 28 saw each student face an interview type situation with the five judges quizzing them on their achievements and general knowledge.

Then last Thursday each student faced a room full of Coleambally Lion’s club members as well as family and friends and were put through two rounds of public speaking.

The first task was to give a two-minute impromptu speech on two topical questions.

The second public speaking challenge was to give a planned speech on a topic of their choosing.

With speeches ranging from sport in small communities to the wonder of the human body the crowd was very entertained and impressed with the talent on show.

There were two awards on offer on the night; Public Speaking and the Coleambally Youth of the Year.

The eventual winner of both awards was Hannah Kelly.

Hannah impressed the judges with the content of her

speeches and her overall confidence and delivery.

She gave a very moving and entertaining speech on growing up in Coleambally and her memories of being a child in the small town.

Hannah will now move on to the zone final in Griffith on March 13.