Bilambil Public School students, and one proud Grandma, have wowed the crowd and the judges at this year’s Murwillumbah Festival of Performing Arts.
Classes 5C, 2H and combined Kindergarten classes KP and KJ all took out first prize in yesterday’s choral speaking category while 4M was named runner-up in their age group.
The students had been given invaluable coaching by retired local speech and drama teacher Kay Robinson, whose grandchildren Cassie and Luke have attended Bilambil School.
Mrs Robinson volunteered to help prepare the students for the highly-regarded eisteddfod because she is a strong believer in the value of performing arts as a way of giving children confidence and self-esteem.
It is the third year she has volunteered at Bilambil Public School.
She said by taking part in drama and speech, children were taught life skills such as how to communicate effectively, how to work as a team and gaining personal confidence.
It also introduced them to an art form Mrs Robinson said was a part of every society in the world.
“I find volunteering to teach choral speaking is a wonderful way of reaching a large number of children in a small amount of time,” said Mrs Robinson.
“I love what I do because, having taught around the Tweed for almost 30 years, I have seen the results.”
Mrs Robinson said she was delighted to see all the children return to school with either a first or second place award after working so hard but their enthusiastic and polished performances had reflected the fun they had.
“Many students never go up on a stage but doing it as a group gives them the confidence to do so,” she said.
School Principal Carole Bool said it was wonderful to see the pride on the students’ faces after the hard work they had put in.
“It shows them what can be achieved when you set your mind to something and all of us here at Bilambil Public School are very proud of them,” she said.
This is the 80th anniversary of the Murwillumbah Festival of Performing Arts which runs until July 14.
