“If truth is to emerge and in the long run be triumphant, the process of free debate, the untrammelled clash of opinion must go on.”
– Robert Menzies
Outline
The Robert Menzies Institute Speech Competition is a program for secondary students in Australia to practice oratorical skills in a speech relating to the legacy of Australia’s longest-serving Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies. Robert Menzies was well-known for his powerful speeches, including the Jefferson Oration, delivered on US Independence Day at Monticello, Charlottesville, Virginia in 1963. Sir Robert Menzies spoke often of the importance of a good speech: “Aim at simple, clear speech, and if you aim at that and achieve it, you will find that this will make a very great difference right through your lives.”
2025 Theme
How important is respectful debate to the health of a democracy?
You must refer to Robert Menzies’s involvement in advancing debate through his actions and policy.
Key Information:
Prepare, practice, record and upload a speech addressing the 2025 theme. You must refer to Robert Menzies’s involvement in advancing debate through his actions and policy.
Finalists will be selected and invited to deliver their speeches at a live event in August 2025.
Year 7/8 Category: 3-5 minutes
Year 9/10 Category: 4-6 minutes
Year 11/12 Category: 5-7 minutes
Helpful Resources
For Students
Provided is a document that offers useful resources that may be referenced in delivered speeches in order to link to Robert Menzies’ actions and legacy.
Located below are additional resources to assist in successfully delivering and writing speeches.
Tips for public speaking
Resources for speech structure
For Teachers
Free Download – Speech Competition Flyer (A5)
Free Download – Speech Competition Poster (A4)
Submission
Submissions open in January 2025.
Previous Winners & advice from the 2024 Winner
Previous Winners
2022 Winner: Ysmene Ostik-Smith (Wesley College)
To see Ysmene’s speech visit: 2022 winning speech
2023 Winner: Vasish Vaisreddy (Melbourne High School)
To see Vasish’s speech visit: 2023 winning speech
2024 Winner: Thomas Maguire-Nguyen (Salesian College)
To see Thomas’ speech visit: 2024 winning speech
Advice from the 2024 Winner: Thomas Maguire-Nguyen
What did you learn in the process of preparing, rehearsing and recording your speech?
I learnt that there is simply no substitute for thoroughly researched, considered writing. As a student of history, I know how important it is to implement evidence, ensuring that my worldview that I am opining for is not only researched, but also extremely defendable and highly persuasive. Your manner and presentation style are also highly important, but for an academic institution like the RMI, it’s most important that you have your information and research skills down pat first.
What was the best part about entering the Robert Menzies Speech Competition?
As a self-confessed history and politics nerd, one of my favourite parts about entering the RMI speech competition was the opportunity to conduct in-depth research about the political pressures and concerns related to my topic. I studied units ¾ Australian history, and having the opportunity to apply my knowledge for a competition like this was invaluable.
What was the hardest part about entering the Robert Menzies Speech Competition and how did you overcome this?
The hardest part about entering the RMI is finding information and sources to back up your perspective. Luckily there is a heap of excellent sources available, especially for the time periods that the RMI usually asks you to research. Some of the ones that I used were:
- Trove: This is an incredible source run by the National Library of Australia, including records from hundreds of thousands of newspapers, magazines, audio recordings from around Australia, containing most surviving journalistic records since colonisation.
- State Library Victoria: The state library is extremely useful for finding historical sources and reading the books of historians. Given Menzies’ influence, there is an endless amount of books and articles that have been written by scholars and historians about him, so it’s a great way to find sources that can inform your opinion.
What advice would you give to students who plan to enter in 2025?
The advice that I would give to students planning to enter would be the same advice I give anybody who does public speaking – remember your audience. You are speaking for a research institution whose key role is to discuss the life and times of Robert Menzies and to research the post-war period and investigate polices based on liberalism. This may mean that you choose to omit or include important points related to these ideas and a liberalist ideology. Finally, remember that you are speaking to a research institution, not to your friends in English class. You should be opining with an informed, stringently researched, judicious worldview, not grandstanding or trying to shock everyone in the room. Tailor your speeches accordingly, good luck with your entry!
Prizes
Prizes
Year 7/8 Category: $500 + $200 worth of books
Year 9/10 Category: $1,000+ $200 worth of books
Year 11/12 Category: $1,500 + $200 worth of books + invitation to deliver their speech at the Robert Menzies Institute Annual Conference in November 2025.
Sponsors
Scanlon Foundation
Connor Court Books
Further information
The Robert Menzies Institute values the privacy of all entrants. Written permission will be sought from the entrant and their guardian/s before any material is published or shared.
If you have any questions, please contact Matthew Allanby at schools@robertmenziesinstitute.org.au
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