French essayist and moralist, Joseph Joubert once said: “It is better to debate a question without settling it, than to settle a question without debating it.”  Debating is a skill mastered only once you have the ability to look at things from every point of view and to say that you are ‘for’ even when you might be ‘against’.  Debating is a skill mastered once it has become second nature to you.  Once acquired, this skill opens your mind to better understanding.  This year, 2009, has truly been a memorable one for the debating society at V.P. Who could ever forget the familiar, “I greet you all in the wonderful name of debating?”

One of our main highlights was undoubtedly the Grade 8 open evening display. In true Victorian spirit, we pulled it off successfully and proved to be quite entertaining in the process.  Every single debating practice was filled with laughter and smiles and every debate was executed with much effort.  Debating has given many learners a voice and the confidence that a young person should never have to be without.

This year has granted us memories that are forever and will be treasured.  Who could forget the long trips to and from Woodridge, or the debate against Alex when one of the juniors decided to agree with Alex’s argument, not realising what he was doing (hopefully), or our marvelous win against Theodor Herzl.  We honestly lived, challenged and dared.  Debating has definitely become second nature to all of us.

To our beloved matrics: Sazi, Dilo, Gini and Patience, we wish you well.  You taught all of us the art of debating by example. May the fun and determination of debating stay with you.

I would like to thank Mrs. T. Van der Merwe and Mr. Snodgrass for dedicating their afternoons to debating. It is always appreciated.
A huge congratulations to the new board of 2010: President: Leah Moodley, Vice president: Masinga Rune, Secretary:  Arian Badier and Head of House: Precious Isaacs.  I have no doubt that next season is going to be totally awesome!  I look forward to greeting you all in the wonderful and esteemed name of debating.

Leah Moodley
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In 2004 an eager group of teenagers were introduced to the competitive High Schools Quiz League. Back then 14 schools competed in this challenging and often
nail-biting competition.

Victoria Park High’s quiz pupils were however up for the challenge and managed to achieve resounding success. The junior team (Nosipho Voyi, Simphiwe Voyi, Sikhumbuzo Ntshidi (Goepie) and Adriaan Wildervanck) beat the opposition convincingly and were crowned the 2004 champions of the Junior High Schools Quiz League. It was a remarkable feat because they came up against past Herald School quiz champions like Alexander Road, St Thomas and Gelvandale High and beat them. The senior team captained by Stephen Welsh also faired well that year and ended as the winners of the runners up trophy.

What made that year even more rewarding was making it to the semi-finals of the Herald Schools quiz. It was heart wrenching to come so close only to lose against eventual winner, Westering High, but it was a proud moment too, because Victoria Park had served notice of its arrival on the quiz scene. Three years on that same group and a few new faces Patience Ndhambi and Sazikazi Mzileni make up the senior team. This year we had a bag of mixed fortunes; we won some, lost a few and drew the odd game, which resulted in our team narrowly missing out on being in the finals. Although this has not been one of our best showings in the league, we are proud of everything we have achieved thus far.

The junior team made up of Reece Adams, Taufeeq Agherdien, Yolanda Ntshidi, Chad Perils, Kyle Deasy and Rowan Powell had a wonderful season beating eight of the nine schools they played against. They ended at the top and made it through to the semi-finals where they came up against Andrew Rabie beating them 12 – 9. The Finals against St Thomas was a tense affair, which ended in a draw (23-23) and because we had to have a winner, it went to sudden death. Unfortunately, the juniors lost to St Thomas and had to settle for the runners up trophy. So, next year it is back to the drawing board and hopefully we will bring the trophy home where it belongs.

The quiz pupils also participated in the World General Knowledge Olympiad and special mention must be made of Adriaan Wildervanck. He did the school proud and was awarded a bronze certificate for coming third in the Eastern Province.

A huge thank you though must go to the most dedicated and probably one of the most hardworking teachers at VP, Ms P. Meyer. It is because of her dedication and love that we as a quiz team have come to be recognized as one of the top three quiz schools in P.E. She really has been an inspiration and her mentoring has made all the quiz pupils appreciate the idea of “hard work results in success”.

The quiz team bids Simphiwe, Goepie and myself (Nosipho) a fond farewell for serving quiz so faithfully and successfully. We pass the baton on to the current quiz pupils to continue our winning tradition and we wish them well.

Nosipho Voyi

It has been a year of new beginnings for the debating society. The 2008 debating league brought with it a few changes. The first one was that only the senior teams competed for points and junior teams were now called “shadow teams”.

This meant that the fate of our entire season rested on the shoulders of Seif Said, Yakupa Mdodana and Nosipho Voyi. Although the junior teams did not take part competitively they still played a vital role in the society by offering support and plenty of laughs along the way. We had our best season yet by beating our arch rivals and past league winners Theodor Herzel in a series of awesome wins. The only teams that managed to beat us in very close debates were Muir, Alex and Westering.

With practice and guidance we are sure to set a mark on Debating in the Port Elizabeth region.

Miss Heugh

The Debating Society is known for its exciting mock debates, overly enthusiastic displays and its assembly announcements, and this year was no different…

“I greet you all in the wonderful, esteemed name of debating”

The year began with an overwhelmingly large influx of eager Grade 8’s who were only too happy to volunteer for our “confidence-building” mock debates. Together with our faithful regulars, our weekly meetings, in the library, were filled with many laughs and smiles. I’m sure that no one will forget the great “Suzie” court case and the “chocolate milkshake” saga!

Our main highlights of the year included the Alexander Road Debating Festival, SABC Television casting and of course our ‘FAMOUS’ Grade 8 Open evening display. This year’s display was eccentric and some real talent was discovered among these pupils. The theme was based on famous people who would argue in their chosen fields in court (Celebrity Death Match so to speak): Oprah ‘Nosipho’ VS Nelson Mandela ‘Gini’ “Nobel Prize Standards”; Albert Einstein ‘Nqabomzi’ VS Shaka Zulu ‘Seif” “Traditional Medicine is better than Scientific”; William Shakespeare ‘Dilo’ VS Juliet ‘Phumeza’ “Love is a Tragedy”; Hitler ‘Thandiwe’ VS Winston Churchill ‘Siliziwe’ “War is inevitable” and the Police Force ‘Arain’ VS hardened criminals ‘Kaylin and Sean’ “The Death Penalty should be re-instated”. We surely have become a society that is vocal, varied, vibrant and lively ‘Victorians’.

The Annual Interschools’ Debating Competition proved to be extremely competitive this year. Theodor Herzl, Westering and Muir were among our main opposition. We won four of our debates and Best speaker awards were given to Seif, Rachel, Thandiwe, Siliziwe, Danielle and Nosipho.

My aim this year was to include everyone in the League and to build confidence in all my members. This seems to have been achieved and is obvious in our immensely talented juniors: Danielle Durandt – gained a strong voice, the dynamic Junior team of Rachel Bolton, Jade Maritz and Kaylin Higgs are a force not to be reckoned with in years to come (Watch out Muir Boys). The articulate senior duo of Nosipho Voyi and Seif Said attended Parliamentary Competition in August. They are to be congratulated on their exceptional performances. It is no wonder that the Oratory Competition has an abundance of debaters both participating and winning!

Thanks must go to my Senior Matrics: Richman Luthando (The Judge), Thandiwe Msizi (The Politician), Phumeza Mlonzi (The File- bearer: a lady who is organized), and Siliziwe Mapalala; their loyalty and passion has meant a great deal to me. Special thanks to Miss Meyer and Mr Voyi for their assistance.

I hope that in years to come, the society will continue to flourish. Fellow debaters, never forget:

‘A good debate is like an Airfreshene: it Challenges the bad odour,
sweetens it and its FRAGRANCE lingers forever….’

Miss K. Owalsky

The Debating Society possesses some of the most talented speakers that Victoria Park has ever come across. We have literally lived , challenge and dared.

In my opinion, the Debating Society is exactly what pupils need to boost their confidence and improve their oratory abilities. I know this, because I am proof of it.

I would like to thank our one and only Miss Owalsky for making our experience in the society immensely pleasant. To Miss “O”, to the Matric debating group and to the rest of the debators, as the Chairman of the Society for 2006/2007,I would like to say, “It has been great.
Farewell in the wonderful name of Debating.”

Richman Luthando