The Stage Is Set: District 17’s Contests Are Coming

What happens when a question comes out of nowhere—or a funny story has to make an entire room laugh? From October through early November, District 17’s Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contests will put speaking skills, creativity and quick thinking centre stage.

The Area Contests are where club champions step beyond their familiar meeting rooms, challenge themselves and compete for the opportunity to progress to the Division level.

The Humorous Speech Contest brings stories, characters, observations and punchlines to life. The Table Topics Contest is a different kind of challenge: contestants receive a question on the spot and have little time to turn their thoughts into a compelling response.

But contests are not just about the people behind the microphones.

They are also about the people in the seats.

A great audience can make a good contest unforgettable. Your laughter tells a humorous speaker that the punchline landed. Your applause can help a nervous contestant find their rhythm. Your presence shows every speaker that their courage, preparation and willingness to step outside their comfort zone are valued.

Then comes the next stage:

Northern Division: Saturday, 7 November 2026, 9:00 am
Southern Division: Saturday, 7 November 2026, 1:00 pm
Central Division: Sunday, 22 November 2026, 11:30 am

All three Division Contests will be held at Hillview Intercultural Community Centre, 1–3 Hillview Place, Bentley WA 6102.

Area Contest dates, times and locations are available on the District 17 Calendar. District 17 also provides contest rules, scripts and judging resources to support clubs and contest teams.

So mark the dates, bring your club, invite a friend and come ready to laugh, learn and cheer.

You may arrive as an audience member. You may leave thinking, “Next time, that could be me!”