News

This year marked a new chapter for Aquinas debating, defined by fresh faces and new beginnings. Having lost four of our six debaters from the previous year, the season quickly became one of growth, resilience, and opportunity. Except for the coaches, Aden and Maeve, no one on the Team had prior debating experience.

In response, the Team committed themselves to an intensive period of preparation—running countless training sessions and inviting experienced alumni coaches to provide feedback and adjudication. Week by week, the Team’s progress was impressive. As coaches, Aden and Maeve, commented that they could not have been prouder of the dedication, adaptability, and steady improvement shown by every member.

When the first night arrived, nerves were high, but so too was the excitement. The affirmative team opened the evening, delivering a strong performance but narrowly falling to St Ann’s. The negative team followed, losing by just two points to St Mark’s in what was a tightly contested debate. Despite the losses, the unwavering support from the Aquinas community was unmistakable; Aquinas undoubtedly had the most spirited and encouraging crowd.

With only a day to regroup, the second night came quickly. Having reflected carefully on the adjudicators’ feedback, the Team returned determined and energised. The negative team led, debating “Whether AI should be used in school assessments” against Lincoln’s affirmative. Their delivery was composed and articulate, and they were rewarded with a well-earned victory. The affirmative team followed against Flinders, speaking with passion and conviction, though ultimately falling short against a strong opposition.

In the end, Aquinas placed fifth overall. While not the result we had hoped for, it did not reflect the true ability of the team nor the immense effort invested throughout the leadup.