CONCORD WEST TOASTMASTERS CLUB – 9th JUNE 2026 – MEETING No: 1540

 “AI”

Venue – The Concord 

Call to Order: Luz R. (on Behalf of Dilani B)

President’s Opening and Guest Welcome – Mario G.

 

Agenda Update: John H. 

Chairman One: Alex L.

Apologies: Kate C, Peter C, Alex T, Matthews S, Lana S, Dilani B, Allan O, Eyza K, Gowri S.

Visitor Introductions: Steven H, Lily T. 

Reading of the Club: Roberto B. 

Grammarian (WOD): Nil

Ice Breaker: “What might be the future of AI in our daily lives and or work lives”. ALL

 

Prepared Speech Session:  

Toastmaster – Kelly Z.

Speaker One: Luz R. [DL1:5] Vocal Variety and Body Language
“The Secret”.

Speaker Two: Mario G. [DL4:2] Manage Projects Successfully
“Managing Projects Successfully”.

Speaker Three: John H. [EH5:3] Keynote address
“Defining Humour”.

 

Speech Evaluations:

Evaluation One: Brendan D.

Evaluation Two: Sri A.

Evaluation Three: Kelly Z

 

BREAK: 

 

Call to Order – S@A – Luz R. (on Behalf of Dilani B)

Chairman Two: Senthil J.

Toast: Ashveer S. – “Embracing Change”. [FIRST]

 

Table Topics Session Two

Table Topics Master – Brendan D.

Evaluator Odd Speakers – Sri A.

Evaluator Even Speakers – John H.

 

Book, Film, Food Review: Ashveer S. “Crime & Punishment” [FIRST]

Book, Film, Food Review: Maria O. “The Book of Joy” [FIRST]

 

Grammarian Report: Nil.

Ums & Ahs Report: Roozy K.

Big Ears: Roberto B. [FIRST]

Timers Report: Thilini J. [FIRST] 

Meeting Overview: Alex L.

 

BUSINESS SESSION – CLUB ELECTIONS

President – Brendan D.

Vice President Education – John H.

Vice President Membership – Maria O.

Vice President Public Relations – Sri A.

Secretary – Luz R.

Treasurer – Mario G.

Seargeant @ Arms – Luz R.

 

Visitor Feedback: Steven H, Lily T. 

Planning Forward: John H. 

President’s Closing Remarks: – Mario G. 

NEXT MEETING
The Concord – Tuesday 23rd June 2026

CONCORD WEST TOASTMASTERS CLUB – 2nd JUNE 2026 – MEETING No: 1539

 “EXTEMPORANEOUS”

 

Venue – Zoom 

Call to Order: Dilani B.

President’s Opening and Guest Welcome – Mario G.

 

Agenda Update: John H. 

Chairman One: Luz R.

Apologies: Kate C, Peter C, Alex T, Matthews S, Lana S, Maria O, Roozy K, Rumi M, Brendan D, Allen O, Gowri S.

Visitor Introductions: Nil.

Reading of the Club: Ashveer S. 

Grammarian (WOD): Nil

Ice Breaker: “Recall a time when you were extremely stressed or anxious about an impending situation”.ALL

 

Table Topics Session One:  

Toastmaster – Eyza K.

Evaluation 1: Sri A.

Evaluation 2: Dilani B.

 

BREAK: 

 

Call to Order – S@A – Dilani B.

Chairman Two: Alex L.

Toast: Eyza K. – “The Good Old Days”.

 

Table Topics Session Two

Table Topics Master – John H.

Evaluator Odd Speakers – Ashveer S. [FIRST]

Evaluator Even Speakers – Hayley Y.

 

Book, Film, Food & SoapBox: Hayley Y. “SWOP”

 

Grammarian Report: Nil.

Ums & Ahs Report: Luz R.

Big Ears: Luz R.

Timers Report: Mario G.

Meeting Overview: Mario G.

Planned Business Session for Club Elections deferred due to a lack of a Quorum 

Visitor Feedback: Nil.

Planning Forward: John H. 

President’s Closing Remarks: – Mario G. 

NEXT MEETING
The Concord – Tuesday 9th June 2026

Club Elections – Business Session

CONCORD WEST TOASTMASTERS CLUB – 26th MAY 2026 – MEETING No: 1538

 “TIME MANAGEMENT”

 

Venue – The Concord 

Call to Order: Dilani B.

President’s Opening and Guest Welcome – Mario G.

 

Agenda Update: John H. 

Chairman One: Maria O. [FIRST] 

Apologies: Kate C, Peter C, Senthil J, Alex T, Matthews S, Lana S, Alan O.

Visitor Introductions: Nil.

Reading of the Club: Ashveer S. 

Grammarian (WOD): Ashveer S – “RESOLVE” [FIRST]

Ice Breaker: “Recall a deadline you were involved in and the amount of pressure you had to deal with”. ALL

 

Prepared Speech Session:  

Toastmaster – Dilani B.

Prepared Speech 1: Roberto B. [PW 1:1] [Ice Breaker]
TITLE: “Under the Hood” – 

Prepared Speech 2: John H. [EH 5:2] [Leading a Volunteer Organisation]
TITLE: “Three Golden Rules”

 

Evaluation 1: John H.

Evaluation 2: Kelly Z.

 

BREAK: 

 

Call to Order – S@A – Dilani B.

Chairman Two: Alex L.

Toast: Mario G. – (The Art of Time Management)

 

Table Topics Session

Table Topics Master – Roberto B. [FIRST]

Evaluator Odd Speakers – Luz R.

Evaluator Even Speakers – Dilani B.

 

Book, Film, Food & SoapBox: [Nil]

 

Grammarian Report: Ashveer S. [FIRST]

Ums & Ahs Report: Luz R.

Big Ears: Thilini J.

Timers Report: Dilani B.

Meeting Overview: Sri A.

Planned Business Session for Club Elections deferred due to a lack of a Quorum 

Visitor Feedback: Nil.

Planning Forward: John H. 

President’s Closing Remarks: – Mario G. 

NEXT MEETING
The Concord – Tuesday 2nd June 2026

Zoom Meeting Online

CONCORD WEST TOASTMASTERS CLUB – 12th MAY 2026 – MEETING No: 1537

 “TAKING THE REINS”

 

 

Venue – The Concord 

Call to Order: Dilani B.

President’s Opening and Guest Welcome – Mario G.

 

Agenda Update: John H. 

Chairman One: Sentil J. [FIRST] 

Apologies: Kate C, Alex T, Grace L, Allan O, Eyza K, Matthew S, Lana S,

Visitor Introductions: Graham W. (District Representative conducting Club Report).

Reading of the Club: Ashveer S. [FIRST]

Grammarian (WOD): Dilani B. – “ORCHESTRATE” 

Ice Breaker: “Recall a situation where you were required to lead at short notice. How did it go”. ALL

 

Prepared Speech Session:  

Toastmaster – Gowri S.

Prepared Speech 1: Luz R. [DL 1:3] [Evaluation & Feedback]
TITLE: “What you don’t see on stage” – 

Prepared Speech 2: Mario G. [DL 4:1] [Develop Change Management]
TITLE: “Teaching old dogs new logins” – 

Prepared Speech 3: John H. [EH 5:1] [Deliver Message with Humour]
TITLE: “Leadship and Moments of Truth” – 

 

Evaluation 1: Dilani B.

Evaluation 2: Senthil J. [FIRST]

Evaluation 3: Sri A.

 

BREAK: 

 

Call to Order – S@A – Dilani B.

Chairman Two: Alex L.

Toast: Roberto B. – (Not Recorded)

 

Table Topics Session

Table Topics Master – Gowri S.

Evaluator Odd Speakers – Luz R.

Evaluator Even Speakers – Maria O. [FIRST]

 

Book, Film, Food & SoapBox: Senthil J. [FIRST] – “Sapiens” (Book comparing Chinese and Jewish Business Practices 

 

Grammarian Report: Dilani B.

Ums & Ahs Report: Luz R.

Big Ears: Mario G.

Timers Report: Ashveer S. [FIRST]

 

Meeting Overview: Graham W. (District Representative Area 6 Report)

Visitor Feedback: Graham W. 

Planning Forward: John H. 

President’s Closing Remarks: – Mario G. 

NEXT MEETING
The Concord – Tuesday 26th May 2026

Club Executive Elections

CONCORD WEST TOASTMASTERS CLUB – 5th MAY 2026 – MEETING No: 1536

 “TREPIDATION”

 

Venue – Zoom 

Call to Order: Dilani B.

President’s Opening and Guest Welcome – Mario G.

 

Agenda Update: John H. 

Chairman One: Dilani B. 

Apologies: Kate C, Peter C, Alex T, Maria O, Omar S, Senthil J, Ashveer S, Hayley Y, Eyza K.

Visitor Introductions: NA.

Reading of the Club: Allan O. 

Grammarian (WOD): Roberto B. – [SALIENT] [FIRST]

Ice Breaker: “Recall a time when you were extremely stressed or anxious about an impending situation”.ALL

 

Prepared Speech Session:  

Toastmaster – Gowri S.

Prepared Speech 1: John H. [Facilitation] 
TITLE: “Conference Review” – 

 

Evaluation 1: Open

 

BREAK: 

 

Call to Order – S@A – Dilani B.

Chairman Two: Luz R.

Toast: John H. – (Not Recorded)

 

Table Topics Session

Table Topics Master – Mario G.

Evaluator Odd Speakers – Sri A.

Evaluator Even Speakers – Gowri S.

 

Book, Film, Food & SoapBox: Thilini J. – “Ikigai” – “The Japanese secret to a long life”

Book, Film, Food & SoapBox: Alex L. – “Preferential Voting”

 

Grammarian Report: Roberto B. [FIRST]

Ums & Ahs Report: Allan O. [FIRST]

Big Ears: Luz R.

Timers Report: Matthew S.

Meeting Overview: Matthew S.

Visitor Feedback: NA.

Planning Forward: John H. 

President’s Closing Remarks: – Mario G. 

NEXT MEETING
The Concord – Tuesday 12th May 2026

DISTRICT 70 CONFRENCE – CAMPBELLTOWN CATHOLIC CLUB

CONCORD WEST BREAKS 

A DISTRICT CONTEST RECORD 

At the 2026 District 70 Conference Concord West had a Contestant in each of the 4 Speech Finals.

Friday Evening – Humorous Contest  – John Hughson

Saturday Morning – International Speech Contest – Sriraman Annaswamy

Saturday Afternoon – Table Topics Contest – John Hughson

Sunday Morning – Evaluation Contest – Sriraman Annaswamy

John was successful in winning the District 70 Table Topics Contest for 2026, with his speech: "So You Don't Believe in Aliens"
The Bruce Crawley Trophy was presented by Contest Chair, District 70 Program Quality Director Maria Pedavoli and last years Toastmaster International World Champion of Public Speaking –  Sabyasachi Sengupta from the Netherlands.John responded to the question: "What is the one unspoken rule that people pretend to follow but secretly break?"

Table Topics Contest Speech Video:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/dnfmm4bfir1iazb9teyn5/ACjPn1TBEtv5aUE4j-huhfA/Sat%202nd%20May/Table%20Topics%20Contest/Table%20Topics%20Contest%20-%20John%20Hughson.mp4?rlkey=fsqdb9v7do7eacevv94sjsumm&dl=0

John was also Runner Up in the District 70 Humorous Speech Contest.

Humorous Speech Contest Video: 

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/dnfmm4bfir1iazb9teyn5/AMnQYJeb9pSYCRWdbTzfkTU/Fri%201st%20May/Humorous%20Speech%20Contest/Humorous%20Speech%20Contest%20-%20John%20Hughson.mp4?rlkey=fsqdb9v7do7eacevv94sjsumm&dl=0

Unfortunately Sri was not placed in either of his 2 Contests where the standard was of an exceptional high standard but he did Concord West proud.

 

John and Sri were supported by a couple of Concord West Members in Kate and Peter, Gowri and recently departed member Harini and new Member Luz who received her 

'First Timer Ribbon' for attending a Conference event. 

CONCORD WEST TOASTMASTERS CLUB – 28th APRIL 2026 – MEETING No: 1535

 “ACHIEVEMENT”

 

Venue – The Concord Boardroom 

Call to Order: Dilani B.

President’s Opening and Guest Welcome – Mario G.

 

Agenda Update: John H. 

Chairman One: Brendan D. 

Apologies: Kate C, Peter C, Hailey D, Grace L, Omar S, Aurora D, Ashveer S, Allan O, Eyza K, Roberto B, Lana S.

Visitor Introductions: NA.

Reading of the Club: Thilini J. 

Grammarian (WOD): Maria O. – [AUTHENTICITY] [FIRST]

Ice Breaker: “Share a major achievement that you never thought you would ever achive”. ALL

 

 

Prepared Speech Session:  

Toastmaster – John H.

Prepared Speech 1: Maria O. [PM 1:1] The Ice Breaker
TITLE: “The Power of Words” – 

Prepared Speech 2: Mario G. [DL 4:2] Connecting with Storytelling.

TITLE: “One of Those Days”

 

Evaluation 1: John H.

Evaluation 2: Alex T.

 

BREAK: 

 

Call to Order – S@A – Dilani B.

Chairman Two: Mario G.

Toast: Gowri S. – “Those who gave their lives” (Tribute to ANZAC Day)

 

Table Topics Session

Table Topics Master – Matthew S.

Evaluator Odd Speakers – Sri A.

Evaluator Even Speakers – Roozy K. [FIRST]

 

Book, Film, Food & SoapBox: Alex L. – “Daylight Saving” 

 

Grammarian Report: Maria O. [FIRST]

Ums & Ahs Report: Thilini J. [FIRST]

Big Ears: Senthil J. [FIRST]

Timers Report: Luz R.

Meeting Overview: Brendan D.

Visitor Feedback: NA.

Planning Forward: John H. 

President’s Closing Remarks: – Mario G. 

DISTRICT 70 CONFERENCE

Friday 1^st to Sunday 3^rd May 2026

Concord West has 4 Competitors 

One in each Contest Category

 

NEXT MEETING
Zoom Tuesday 5th May 2026