Rostrum Australia (formerly Australian Rostrum) is an association of Australian public speaking clubs, founded on 21 July 1930. It is the main continuation of the original Rostrum club ("The Rostrum") founded in Manchester, United Kingdom on 21 July 1923. This club's other surviving descendants are "Rochdale Rostrum", a Rostrum club in the Greater Manchester area founded in 1978; and the presently dormant "Wellington Rostrum Club" in New Zealand.
Its early establishment makes Rostrum the longest running public speaking organisation in the world.
Rostrum clubs aim to help their members improve their speaking and meeting skills. They do this primarily through regular club meetings and less frequent competitions.
Australian Rostrum's main national competition for members is the "Sidney Wicks Speaking Competition". This is held roughly every six to eight years. In other years, state and territory competitions are dominant.
Its other main national competition is the annual Rostrum Voice of Youth (VOY). This is open to all high school students. It involves a prepared speech and an impromptu speech.
Video Australian Rostrum
History
1920s
Rostrum was founded by Sidney F. Wicks. Wicks was an author, an advertising executive for the Manchester Guardian, public relations practitioner Company Director and Newspaper Chief Editor. He came to believe that people needed to think through their own decision-making processes rather than just accept the promotions of the press and other interested parties. On 21 July 1923, he founded a club in Manchester with the prime purpose to encourage men to listen to many sources before formulating their own opinions, and then to speak their minds to groups of others in a way that would encourage them to listen. The club began as an offshoot of the Manchester YMCA Businessmen's Speaking Class.[1]
After the first meeting under a yew tree at Greendale Farm near Manchester, meetings for YMCA members were held on Wednesday evenings in the local YMCA building. In 1924 a young Australian Engineer training in Manchester, Alan Crook (later MBE), joined Rostrum while studying at the Victoria University of Manchester. The following year he returned to Australia.
1930s
Crook, with the help of Robert Swainson and Stuart McPhee, formed a Rostrum Club in Sydney. [2] It was founded on 21 July 1930, coincidentally exactly seven years after the original club. It was founded under an Angophora tree on the shores of Middle Harbour in Sydney. Alan Crook was the first President and Robert Swainson the Critic.[3] Like the Manchester Club, this was a dinner club. In November 1931, "Luncheon Club No.1" was formed, Alan Crook again being the first President.[4] "No.2 Luncheon Club" was formed in July 1932, No.3 in July 1933 and No.4 Club in July 1934. The original club was given the name of "Foundation Club".
In May 1934, Alan Crook went to Melbourne for a holiday and formed a Rostrum Club which a few months later, together with the then five Sydney Clubs, became the first Dais (regional council). Fred Seamons was the first President and held this office for 15 years. A second Rostrum club was formed in Melbourne in July 1935 and the Victorian clubs then formed their own Dais.
On the evening of 3 December 1935, George McNicholl, Treasurer of the Melbourne & Metropolitan Board of Works and Chairman of the Australian Institute of Secretaries (AIS), moved a very gracious vote of thanks to a guest speaker from the SA branch of the AIS. Afterwards, some SA residents present asked McNicholl how he became to be such a good speaker. He told them about Rostrum. This discussion lead to the first South Australian meeting. It was held in Adelaide on 18 February 1936 in the inner suburb of North Terrace.[5]
In 1937, Alan Crook took a business trip to Brisbane and during this trip, he initiated Queensland's first club on 6 May 1937. By November that year Brisbane's second club was launched.
An Australian Rostrum Council was established on 5 January 1938, bringing together the state Daises. Fred Seamons was the President for the first eight years. Alan Crook served as Secretary for 27 years until his death on 9 August 1965.
By the end of the 1930s there were many Rostrum clubs throughout NSW, Victoria, SA and Queensland.
1940s
Rostrum in Australia took a while to spread further west and south, as World War II curtailed expansion. The first club in Tasmania started in 1947 and Western Australia's first club was founded on 21 May 1948.
However, there was some surprising growth to the north, with the Changi Rostrum Club running in the Changi POW camp from 1943-1944 [6].
In 1948 when tap recorders were still not common, Sidney F. Wicks, our founder, sent us a tape recording which said:
To all my friends of AustralianRostrum. It constantly rejoices my heart to hear of your gathering strength and your fidelity to Rostrum ideas and your widening influence on the social life of your great continent. The little acorn which I planted in grey Manchester has become an oak tree in the sunlight of Australia. I am reminded of the New Testament--- -"Paul planted - Apollo watered- -but God gave the increase". May the last come true and God's blessing upon Australian Rostrum and its members Keep true, my comrades (I had almost said: -"My Children in the faith") to the principles laid in the Constitution.. If you are faithful and sternly refuse: to popularise and dilute our high ideal, you will surely find that the art of Public speaking is more than an art, more than the craft of speaking well: it will become a force whereby you may clarify your mind, strengthen your resolution, and make you courageous in the advocacy of truth as revealed to you. You may become an illumination and a force in a country clearly destined by Almighty God for a noble future.
But what matters most is for to renew your grip of the principles laid down. Seen rightly a speech is a word which is a part of the Eternal word which is ever seeking to enlighten the mind of man. A speech is a part of Reason- -its logic is pure, its progression inevitable, its purpose powerful. Above all study the architecture of a speech making its proportions harmonious to the theme - something well built, knit strongly with life blood animating the whole. Avoid pretensions or flowery language, let eloquence arise from sincerity and love of truth: let power arise not from drum-thumping but from the moral force of ideas clearly spoken.
Now I earnestly desire to thank you all for those many food parcels which have been such a wonderful sustenance and even more, gracious message of love and goodwill. Our diet is monotonous and restricted. It often happens that we have neither meat nor bacon nor eggs nor cheese with which to face the next day. Several times an Australian food parcel arrived on the morning of such a day to hailed with grateful joy by my overburdened wife, and my big hungry sons who did such distinguished and perilous service in the war.
Let Australia be warned by this tragic attempt to build the Golden Age by force and legislative enactment and the diffusion of class hatred, and the lush jungle of bureaucracy. A National Health Service launched when there are not enough doctors, nurses, opticians, dentists to meet present needs; building programmes without sufficient materials; School reform with insufficient teachers, schools or equipment, crude schemes of Nationalisation already breeding discontent amongst the workers - all this scamped hastily planned and precipitately launched only serves further to demoralise the people half of whom are frustrated and the other half dependent upon a State which offers material rewards without insisting on increased work and responsibility.
Alas! This once proud nation, now a beggar at the doors of America and bullied by the very Communism from which socialism derived its original inspiration: American dollars and Russian ideology the sustenance of a nation that twice over, by supreme sacrifice, has saved the liberties of the world. But never doubt! Britain will rise again.
My dear Comrades, how I long to come to give you my last message as Founder. But hope grows dim - yet still survives. Nevertheless as my life enters its last stage I am humbly proud that the inspiration given to me twenty years ago has lit such a flame in Australia. In a few years time I may be saying: - "I have fought the good fight - I have kept the faith." May Australian Rostrum always be able to say the same. Love one another, enrich your comradeship, do good to the community never be silent when you ought to speak.
God bless you all,
Your Father and Founder
SIDNEY WICKS
South Hylton,
Buxton
Derbyshire
June 1948
1950s
The second Rostrum Club in the UK was started in 1951. By this time, there were nearly 100 Rostrum Clubs in Australia.[7] Speaking clubs were not as popular in the UK as in Australia, the main speaking club group there at the time, Toastmasters had only six clubs before World War II.[8]
The ACT's first club was founded on 3 March 1953.
In 1956, the Secretary of the Victorian Dias, Jo Davis, began a speaking competition for Victorian members. This competition later took his name as the "Jo Davis Cup" after his death in 1964.
In the late 50's a Dais was formed for the ACT.[9] This Dais went on to include clubs from nearby parts of NSW.
A book titled "Rostrum in Victoria: 1934-1959" by RE Tonkin was released by the Victorian Dais around this time.[10]
1960s
The 1960s were a time of rapid growth in the organisation in the ACT and surrounds. Five new clubs became established there during this time. [11]
"Take the Chair", a book on meeting procedure was written for Rostrum by WA members Cecil Carr and Alan Foyster in 1962. The book sold over 90,000 copies in Australia between its release and 1990, when it was rewritten.[12][13]
In 1965 Alan Crook died, shortly after receiving an MBE for his work establishing Australian Rostrum [14].
"Have something to say: a text book for public speakers" was written in 1969 by ACT member Laurie Burgess.[15]
"Chairmanship and Public Speaking" was written for Rostrum in the 1960s by NSW member Evan Bowen-Thomas.
1970s
Various levels of Australian Rostrum ran youth competitions in the early 1970s. In 1974, the various NSW local competitions were combined into a statewide "Voice of Youth" competition. In 1975, Voice of Youth went national, the first national final being held in Canberra. This competition continues today.
1974 saw the creation of the "ACT Rostrum Critics Club", a group devoted to improving critiques in the ACT.[16]
Until 1978, Rostrum in Australia was restricted to men but in that year, the national constitution was changed to allow the entry of women. However, women could not become a member without the Dais council in their state or territory also changing their rules to allow it. Within a few months there were female members in all states except Western Australia, which remained male only until 1986.
Also in 1978, a new club was founded in the UK - Rochdale Rostrum.
The release of "History of ACT Rostrum" by Roy Ayrton and Tom Trebilco was another 1978 event.[17] Tom was later awarded an MBE for his Rostrum work [18].
1980s
The first "Sidney Wicks Speaking Competition" was held in Sydney in 1980 to celebrate 50 years of Rostrum in Australia. It was won by David Mead from WA. The competition is also known as the "National Rostrum Speaking Competition" and "Sidney Wicks Trophy".
1984 saw Victorian member David Shaw write "Towards Better Meetings". [19]
Western Australian clubs began to admit women in 1986.
Also in 1986, NSW member John White and WA President David Julian Price released the first version of Rostrum's current curriculum standard, the "Personal Development Program" (then "Member's Development Program").[20][21]
"Brighter Rostrum meetings: how to make your Rostrum Club meetings more interesting" (edited by George Shaw) and "History of ACT Rostrum, Club 8, 1965-1986" (by Eric Martin and Don Clark) were yet more Rostrum titles released in 1986.[22]
1987 saw Rostrum release the book "Excellence for Communicators" by Laurie Burgess.[23] The then Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, wrote the forward. [24]
This book was followed in 1988 by "How Do I?", [25] and the South Australian "Word master: word a day calendar: a vocabulary expander concept".[26]
The second Sidney Wicks competition was held in Canberra in August 1988 during the Australian Bicentenary celebrations, and was won by Bill Smith from WA. It was held in conjunction with a national conference entitled "Speak up Australia", held at the Australian Academy of Science's "Shine Dome". The conference was joint project of Australian Rostrum and the Penguin Club of Australia, aimed to promote oral communication, especially to children.[27]
In 1989, the book "A Critic's Bag of Remedies" was produced by WA members.[28]
1990s
In 1990, a new version of popular "Take the Chair" (rewritten by Rostrum WA members David Julian Price, Harold Luxton and Bill Smith) was released.[29]
1990 also saw NSW member Alan Milston release the history "Rostrum in Australia 1930-1965".[30]
In 1993, Australian Rostrum declared Robyn Williams "Speaker of the Year".
Sydney hosted the third Sidney Wicks competition in 1994. The winner was Brian Gillespie of Queensland Rostrum.
Also in 1994, Bert Crummer wrote the 84 page book "A brief history of Rostrum Club No. 3 (Brisbane)".[31]
In 1997, New Zealand Rostrum declared Peter Biggs "Speaker of the Decade". Also in that year, "Not to be silent: a history of Rostrum in Tasmania" was written by Malcolm Grant, "Meetings Made Easy" (a revised version of "Towards Better Meetings") was produced by Arthur Martin for Rostrum Victoria,[32] and South Australian member Ron Johnson released "Tips on Public Speaking and Meeting Procedure".[33]
The fourth Sidney Wicks competition was held in Hobart on 7 August 1999 in conjunction with the first Rostrum National Convention. The winner was Andrew Dickson from the ACT zone.
2000s
2000 saw the release of "The torch of truth and freedom: the South Australian Rostrum history, 1936-1999" by Colin Chiverton,[34] and "Tips on Public Speaking and Meeting Procedure: Volume 2" by Ron Johnson.[35]
In 2005 the fifth Sidney Wicks competition was held in Perth on 15 October at the National Convention celebrating 75 years of Rostrum in Australia. The winner was Clarrie Pryor from Tasmania.
In 2005, there were over 140 clubs in Australia, collectively containing nearly 1700 members.. There is currently one small club in Manchester, England. The sole remaining club in New Zealand, in Wellington, is at present in recess.
Over 3000 students participate in the Voice of Youth each year, covering over 500 schools.
2010s
In 2011 the sixth Sidney Wicks competition was held in Adelaide South Australia in October in conjunction with the National Convention. The winner was Jenny Blain of Malvern Rostrum Club 45 in Victoria.
The seventh Sidney Wicks competition was held in Brisbane in conjunction with the annual Australian Rostrum Council conference and the forty third Voice of Youth National finals in late July 2017. The winner is Rob Ellison of Carnegie Rostrum Club 68 in Victoria.
Maps Australian Rostrum
State and Territory Competitions
Each year clubs in Australian states and the Australian Capital Territory hold inter club regional competitions which lead into state wide competitions.
These typically determine the Speaker of the Year for the state or territory. In Victoria the competition is called the state Jo Davis Cup in recognition of a previous active and respected member.
The national Sydney Wicks competition is held between representatives of the State and Territory Rostrum Zones every 5 to 7 years as part of an annual Australian Rostrum Council conference.
See also
- Toastmasters International
- Association of Speakers Clubs
- POWERtalk International
References
External links
- Australian Rostrum
- Rochdale Rostrum
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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