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Written by Administrator
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Friday, 18 February 2005 |
 Our Organization
The West Australian Debating League, or WADL, was founded in 1969 to establish a forum for competitive debate between Perth metropolitan schools. We are a non profit, incorporated community organisation funded solely by the affiliation and team fees that we charge our member schools.
WADL is managed by a committee of 11 young professionals, students and ex-debaters who volunteer large amounts of time and effort to ensure the growth and prosperity of debating in Western Australia. Due to the rapid growth of our competition we have employed a salaried part-time Administrator since 1998 to manage the day to day administration of the League.
Particularly since our incorporation in 1997, WADL has gained a reputation as being a well managed, transparent and financially stable community organisation
Our AimsOur objects then were the same as today, namely:-
- to organise and promote formal debate in Western Australia;
- to encourage excellence in speaking amongst secondary school students;
- to foster ties between participating schools,
- to liaise with and support other community and debating organisations
- to promote the activities of the Australian Debating Federation in Western Australia; and
- to select and train teams to represent Western Australia at the annual National Schools Debating Championships.
WADL believes that debating plays an important role in primary and secondary education. We hope that our competition, and debating in general, helps students develop the speaking skills and confidence necessary to achieve their goals and excel in debating, tertiary studies and the workforce in the future.
Our Secondary Schools CompetitionSince our humble beginnings we have grown to convene the premier schools debating competition in Western Australia. In 2009 our competition involves approximately 1,700 secondary schools students from 48 state, private and independent schools.
The competition runs from March to September each year at 6 venues across the Perth Metropolitan area. At each debate there are often numerous (and vocal) spectators, usually comprising students, teachers, family and friends.
National Schools Debating ChampionshipsWADL also selects, trains and finances the West Australian Schools Debating Team which competes at the annual National Schools Debating Championships against the best schools debaters from around Australia.
WA has performed with distinction at the Championships in recent years having won the title twice, and making the grand final in 1999 and 2007.
Australian Schools Debating TeamThe Australian team is selected at the National Championships and competes in demonstration debates and tournaments across Australia and internationally prior to the annual World Schools Debating Championships.
Members of the WA State Team have consistently been selected for the Australian Team. Recent Western Australian members include Jeremy Rich in 2007, Eleanor Bensley in 2002 and 2003, and Varun Ghosh, who was appointed Captain of the Australian Team in 2002. Community SupportWADL actively supports a number of community organisations and debating and public speaking events each year. We have a long running association with Rotary and the Associated Heads of Independent Schools Association (AHISA) in particular.
In 2009 we provided advice and/or adjudicators to:-
- High School Country Week Debating Competition;
- AHISA Debating Competition; and
- National Schools Debating Championships.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 07 September 2009 )
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