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Some of the area’s best communicators will take the mic at the Warkworth Town Hall on Friday, October 18 for the annual Kowhai Festival Great Debate.
The event is organised by Warkworth Toastmasters and over the past nine years has raised close to $30,000 for hospice.
Toastmasters president Ines Roberts says the emphasis has always been on not being too serious and making audiences laugh.
“The debate moots are purposely designed to be fun,” Ines says. “It’s about getting together as a community, having a laugh, raising money for a good cause and giving our Toastmaster members the opportunity to practice their public speaking skills.”
The first moot this year, ‘Men gossip more than women’, will see Toastmasters’ David Nottage (captain), Robyn Kellian and Andrew Steens challenge a combined Warkworth Lions/Warkworth Rotary team.
In the second moot, ‘Are children necessary?’, Toastmasters Murray Chapman (captain), Lesley Ingham and Brent Harbour will take on a team from the Warkworth Theatre Group.
Fittingly, given that this is the festival’s 50th anniversary, Darryl Soljan, who turned 50 this year, is back as the adjudicator.
Ines says about 300 people attended the debate last year and she is expecting this month’s event to be a sell-out.
“My advice is get your tickets early.”
Mahurangi River Winery, which has provided wine for the debate for the past two years, and major sponsor Mike Pero Real Estate were thanked for their support.
Tickets are $35 and are available from Mahurangi Matters, Harts Pharmacy, Tui House and Gull Matakana.
