Our Debating Team has reached an exciting new milestone this year, advancing further in the DAV State Finals than ever before. This is a remarkable achievement that every member of the team should take immense pride in! The culture they’ve built, their determination to succeed and the effort they’ve put in behind the scenes have not gone unnoticed.
A special thank you to everyone who attended last night’s Octo Finals, and to the parents and families who came out to support – your presence truly made a difference. It’s evident that their encouragement has played a key role in shaping the outstanding young men our debators have become. We were also fortunate to have Mr Murphy and Ms Spurritt there to witness the talent and teamwork on display.
While I was initially hesitant about giving a group of 17- and 18-year-olds the topic, “That individual taxation data (i.e., how much tax each person pays) should be made publicly available,” it quickly became clear that they were more than ready. Their skill in tackling complex issues and turning preparation time into clear, insightful arguments was impressive. They addressed the challenges of transparency, moral implications, privacy concerns and the broader social impact with maturity and finesse.
Team WFC#1, consisting of Jonathan Clark, Phil Deane and Dathen Seneviratne (supported by Sam Ng and Edward Malcolm), argued in favour of making individual taxation data public. Their well-reasoned arguments about transparency and the societal benefits led to a narrow one-point victory over St. Bernard’s College, with Dathen earning the Best Speaker award.
Team WFC#2, featuring Joshua Sarlos, Matthew Kosi and Samuel Lochner (supported by Lukas Mallios and Dom Batten), argued against the motion, highlighting the risks and societal issues such a policy could bring. They triumphed over Ivanhoe Grammar School by an impressive three-point margin, with Matthew receiving the Best Speaker award.
Now, as one of the top eight teams in the state, we move on to the Quarter Finals next week.
Details for the Quarter Finals
Date: Thursday 12 September
Location: Xavier College, 135 Barkers Rd, Kew VIC 3101
Time: Arrive by 5:45pm for the secret topic release at 6:00pm, with debates starting at 7:00pm.
Debators, we look forward to seeing you continue this incredible journey!
