BUNDABERG STATE HIGH -  On Tuesday 2^nd of March four intrepid students and one teacher braved the rising waters and ventured to Urangan State High School to take part in the annual Constitutional Convention. Jared Atkins, Kelly Kemp, Jessie Pomare and Bundaberg State High’s nominated speaker, Kahlia Van Dyk, along with students from surrounding schools, discussed this year’s topic which was, “the importance of the preamble to the Australian Constitution and why it should or should not be retained or amended.”        

Students were given the opportunity to listen to both points of view presented by Senator Jan McLucas (positive) and Senator Russell Trood (negative). Students were then given an opportunity to question both Senator McLucas and Senator Trood as they extended on their ideas in a more informal forum. One of the most valuable aspects of the day was the round table discussions students were able to participate in with students from different schools, this enabled our students to present their own considered opinions and also be exposed to a range of different ideas and opinions.

The formal speeches were presented during the middle session and Bundaberg High’s speaker Kahlia Van Dyk acquitted herself extremely well and was “awesome”! The students listened to a presentation from a representative from the Electoral Commission and were then able to vote for the best speaker of the day, who will now go on to represent the district at the Convention in Canberra.