LAURA Benney will represent Victoria at the national Legacy public speaking finals on November 10 in Townsville.
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The Ballarat High School student placed first at the state finals last Thursday.
Unable to compete at her regional event because she was in Japan, she competed in the Dandenong region and won to go on to the state finals.
Laura prepared a speech on the everlasting legacy of personal sacrifice, both from soldiers and people today, like those fighting fires.
“The unknown soldier memorial in Canberra represents all people who give a personal sacrifice,” she said in her speech.
War and its role has always been important in Laura’s life.
Her great-grandmother lost both her father and husband at war.
“Despite her loss being so hard, their sacrifice went towards the greater good,” Laura said in her speech.
Alongside her five-minute prepared speech, she presents a two-minute impromptu speech at each level of the competition with only five minutes to prepare.
Laura also made it to the Rostrum state final and debates through her school.
“I like to express my own ideas through public speaking and listen to everyone else,” she said.
Following the national Legacy finals, Laura will take part in the Remembrance Day ceremony in Melbourne as a Young Shrine Ambassador.