The trials and tribulations of being a Ginga – or a red-headed person – was the subject that propelled St Paul’s Collegiate year 13 student Thomas ‘Tommy’ Moss to first place in the NZ Lions Clubs 2012 Young Speechmakers National Final last week.
Tommy, from a farming family near Parawera south of Te Awamutu, has red hair.
It’s never caused him any real grief except for the inevitable good-natured jibes, and his mother still loves him.
But he decided to do a bit of research. In his speech, titled An Insight into the Plight of Red-Headed People, he pointed out that people with red hair, who make up less than 2 per cent of the world population, hadn’t always had it easy. They are apparently natural target for bees and some were even burnt for being witches during the dark ages.
However, others had been famous, like early United States president Thomas Jefferson and astronomer Galileo.
Tommy came second in the district speech finals held at St Peter’s School in June and delivered his speech to the Hamilton Chartwell Lions Club members before the final in Auckland. He was also required to undertake a one-minute speech on the fixed topic "Leaders are born not made".
For his win Tommy will spend up to six weeks in the United States and Canada in December, where he will be hosted by local Lions club families.
Tommy was one of five students from Hamilton sponsored into the competition by the Hamilton Chartwell Lions Club.
New Zealand Lions national coordinator Kerry Beach, who was responsible for organising the speech contest, said Tommy’s win was the first from Hamilton in more than 10 years.
The NZ Lions Club 2012 Young Speechmakers National Final was held at Botany Downs Secondary College on Saturday, August 18. The project is available to young people aged 17 to 20 years.
In second place was Oscar Shaw, a year 13 student from Wellington College, and third placing went to Manisha Saini, year 12 at Tokoroa High School.
