State Champion Debaters!

Congratulations to Year 12 students Skye, Eva, Ethan, Magnus and Jemimah on winning the A Grade Debating Association of Victoria (DAV) Grand Final – Wesley's first A Grade win in decades!

The team secured victory by 3 points to 2 against Melbourne High School, one of Victoria's debating powerhouses.

The team progressed through five initial rounds, then seven knockout rounds to reach the Grand Final. Along the way, they defeated formidable opponents including Scotch College in the semi-final and Melbourne High in a closely contested final – both schools renowned for debating excellence.

The DAV Competition, which 250 schools compete in, tests critical thinking, public speaking and quick reasoning under pressure. Teams receive their ‘secret topic’ just an hour before their debate and must prepare a compelling argument and live rebuttal, without computers or reference material, for a panel of five judges and a live audience.

For the Grand Final, Wesley argued the negative side of the topic: ‘We would prefer a world where it is impossible to lie’.

The victory is the result of years of hard work. The team has debated together at the senior level since Year 10, and competed at A Grade since Year 11, maintaining broad general knowledge and keeping up with current affairs to tackle diverse topics.

Debating Team Manager, Ewan Brown, highlighted one of the key strengths of Wesley's championship team: 'Our team is coeducational, which brings a range of perspectives and creates more nuanced arguments. They approach topics more holistically, examining issues from many angles.'

Coach Olivia Camillin (OW2023) said, ‘I am so incredibly proud of this team for the unending hard work they put into debating this year. Each member of the team worked tirelessly to make this win possible. They are constantly improving, and their work has paid off!’