Elsie Kendall is only six but is already conquering the art of public speaking.
The Umina Beach Public School student recently beat hundreds of students across the region to take out the Kindergarten award in a public speaking competition conducted through every public school on the Central Coast.
Mum Rebeka said Elsie’s interest in public speaking “came out of left field”.
“It started with each year group at the school having to pick a topic and write a speech for homework, then deliver it in front of their class” she said.
“Elsie gave her speech and it was named the best in her class, KM; then she won against the best speakers from the school’s other Kindy classes.”
From there, Elsie competed against other Kindergarten winners from schools all over the region at the final and was named the best Kindy speaker.
Elsie’s speech, which she wrote herself, was about space and Halley’s Comet.
“She has always said she wants to be a scientist – I suppose the interest in space comes from that,” Rebeka said.
“She talked about the Big Bang and how the stars and planets were created, and she was also very keen to talk about Halley’s Comet, which fascinates her.”
Elsie said she hopes to become a scientist or an astronaut.
“Halley’s Comet takes 76 years to fly around our sun,” she said.
“My Daddy saw it when he was eight years old and the next time we will be able to see it, I will be 43.”
Elsie is also excited about the newly-discovered A3 comet, which is currently flying outside Jupiter’s orbit and will become more visible from Earth over the next year.
“I like space – it’s really interesting to me,” Elsie said.
“I would love to discover new things in space.”
Elsie has also discovered a new passion for public speaking.
“I was a little bit nervous but I wanted to win and I loved it,” she said.
“I will keep doing speeches.”
Rebeka said she and husband Adam were extremely proud of Elsie’s achievement.
“She performed with so much confidence and expression,” she said.
“She showed remarkable resilience for someone of her age.”
Terry Collins