Cadence Pang wins Cobram Lions Youth of the Year competition

By Gabriel Garcia

Nov 28, 2022

Winner, winner: Cadence Pang, of Cobram Anglican Grammar School, has won Cobram Lions’ Youth of the Year award. Pictured (L-R) are fellow competitors Harrison Brooker, Year 11, Grace Hall, Year 10, Cadence receiving the award from Cobram Community House manager Christine Osborne and Cobram Family and Financial Services’s Bobb Beggs. Photo by Contributed

Cobram Anglican Grammar School Year 11 student Cadence Pang has won Cobram’s Lions Club Youth of the Year competition for 2022.

Cadence beat rival competitors on Wednesday, November 23, to win first place and will be heading to the Lions’ regional competition in early 2023.

Cadence and her fellow competitors were judged in two separate events.

They first had to do a 30-minute corporate interview which included questions based on information they gave on their competition entry forms.

They then had to do a public speech in front of an audience of parents, friends, Lions members and other members of the public. The speech could be of any topic of choice but had to last five minutes.

Cadence spoke on the use of technology in schools.

Fellow contestant Harrison Brooker, also from Cobram Anglican Grammar School, spoke about nuclear power and Grace Hall, from St Mary of the Angels Secondary College, spoke about her life and her experience travelling to different schools.

Competitors: Cobram Anglican Grammar School Year 11 students Harrison Brooker competed against his fellow school student Cadence Pang who eventually won. Both are pictured at the 2022 Remembrance Day Service. Photo by Gabriel Garcia

Finally each contestants had to answer two impromptu general knowledge questions in a set amount of time.

The three judges — Cobram Courier’s Karyn Spataro, Cobram Community House manager Christine Osborne and Cobram Family and Financial Services’s Bob Beggs — judged each contestant on fluidity, engagement with audience, content, clarity and depth of knowledge on their chosen subject.

Cobram Lions secretary Janet Austin said that each of the three competitors held their own and did a wonderful job.

“It was a very close competition but at the end of the day Cadence came out on top,” Mrs Austin said.

Cadence was surprised about the result and thanked the organisers for hosting the event.

“Overall, it was just great to be involved in a competition such as the Lions Club Youth of the Year and I’m really appreciative of the club for putting on the event and supporting young people in our community,” Cadence said.

Cobram Anglican Grammar School Years 10-12 level co-ordinator Carolyn White couldn’t be prouder of both Cadence and Harrison and praised Cadence’s ability to think on the spot.

“Cadence spoke extremely well about the use of technology in school when responding to one of the impromptu questions, (she showed) her ability to think quickly to make a connection with the topic,” Mrs White said.

As for anyone wishing to take part in future competitions, Mrs Austin has strong words of encouragement.

“It is a fantastic opportunity and program to be involved in and it gives nominees vital experience and preparation for future employment interviews and helps build their confidence,” Mrs Austin said.