There was local success at the recent East Gippsland zone final of the long-running Vicspell competition.
Paynesville Primary School, led by principal Deborah Mathers, did a great job of hosting.
It was an exciting day of competition with all participants proving capable of winning.
It was a keen but excited group that met at sunny Paynesville to help select the East Gippsland representatives for the state final held yesterday.
Vicspell representative, Norm McLennan, commented on the necessity of correct spelling and how competing under pressure is a valuable experience.
He admitted he was not a good speller but learnt the value of checking one’s spelling. He added that in the past one student admitted he was not sporty and that spelling was his one chance to represent his school.
Vicspell convenor Trevor Sowdon recalled being transported by ambulance a month ago, following a traffic accident, to the Alfred Hospital.
While waiting for a bed to be made ready, the driver said he looked familiar to her. Trevor asked which school she went to. “Chairo”, she replied. Trevor said he had not taught at Chairo but had dealings with them via spelling. She responded that she was a good speller. Trevor pointed out that the best speller to represent that school was Eleesha Berg.
The driver’s response was “how do you remember me from 20 years ago?”.
Eleesha was the 2004 year eight champion and a district winner of the national Ozspell competition.
RESULTS
Year 5: 1, Remi Perera (Lakes Entrance); 2, Matilda Jakobi (Lakes Entrance); 3, Stella Kuick (St Mary’s); 4, Harry Davidson; 5. Allanah McInnes, Chloe Rodwell; 6. William Savige, Pepper Lockhart, Brock Voigt, Charlotte Paterson, Sienna McIntyre; 7. Harry Gordon, Emilia Stewart, Jaxon Wyntjes; 8. Yuan Casapao, April Wyntjes.
Year 6: 1, Indi Rijs (St Brendan’s); 2, Oliver Wright (Lucknow); 3. Cooper Kennedy (St Brendan’s),Grace Hutchins (754); 4. Alanis Hildred, Pilot Wickham, Layla Wright; 5. Hayden Andrews, Jacob Brooks, Kipp Chandler, Hamish Jack, Hannah Kelly, Lucas Walker; 6. Ariana Booth, Jayce Dwyer, Chiarah Searle.
Year 7: 1, Tully Smeal (Nagle); 2, Liam Carmichael.
Year 8: 1, Lucy Simpson (Nagle); 2, Daniyal Kashif.
Remi, Indi, Tully and Lucy advances to the state final on Tuesday, September 3, starting at 11am at St Paul’s Anglican Grammar at Cross’s Road, Traralgon.
Norm and Trevor were impressed by the efforts the schools and all the students made.
