Organisers of the 122nd annual Royal South Street Society competition praised the more than 10,000 competitors and 40,000 audience members who again made the event a huge success. 

Bringing more than $7.5 million to the region each year, the  competition this year involved 14 performing arts disciplines, including pianoforte, debating, speech and drama, brass bands, choral, instrumental, classical vocal, contemporary vocal, country music, dance and callisthenics. 

Ballarat Clarendon College year 11 student Jack Richardson was welcomed back for yesterday’s showcase and said it was a great honour. 

“It’s amazing to be involved in this competition,” he said. 

“But to be asked back for the showcase is pretty special. It shows an appreciation for your work, which can’t be matched.”

Richardson had the packed theatre in fits of laughter as he delivered a “speech and drama” interpretation from the Douglas Adams book, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

Another item which had the crowd  enthralled was a violin solo by the competition’s youngest entrant, four-year-old Diem My. 

Royal South Street Society president Ronald Harrington praised everyone involved in the competition. 

“Again, we’ve had another great year of competition here in Ballarat,” Mr Harrington said. 

“Everything has gone well and it has been great to see some of the talent on stage.

“The talent we have here in Ballarat alone is so good ... we have the best of the best.”

Mr Harrington also thanked the many volunteers who gave more than 16,500 hours of service to plan, coordinate and stage the competition.

patrick.byrne@fairfaxmedia.com.au