Video transcript
NSW Premier's Spelling Bee 2022 - Junior state final

[intro music]

TAMARA READS: My name is Tamara Reads. I'm the Premier's Programs Officer, Reading and Spelling, at the Arts Unit. It's my great pleasure to welcome you here to Eugene Goossens Hall for this year's junior state final of the Premier's Spelling Bee.

I'd like to acknowledge that we meet on the home of the Gadigal people. We pay respect to Elders past and present and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people here today. Aboriginal people have been teaching and learning on these lands for thousands of years, and it's a real honour to continue that tradition here.

I'd like to welcome to this event, our special guest, The Honourable Sarah Mitchell, Minister for Education and Early Learning, Georgina Harrison, Secretary of the NSW Department of Education, Dr Sylvia Corish, Executive Director, Student Support and Specialist Programs and Jordi Austin, Director, Arts, Sport and Initiatives.

I extend our appreciation to the sponsors of this year's spelling bee and welcome our major sponsor from Grok Academy, CEO and Executive, Dr James Curran, and Head of People and Customer, Kylie Williams. Victoria Morgan, Managing Editor, Macquarie Dictionary, our official wordlist supplier and prize sponsor.

From our media partner, ABC Radio Sydney, Katie Finnigan-Long, Marketing Coordinator, and Elizabeth Green, Content Director, ABC Radio. Our student officials chairing the final are from Lidcombe Public School, and they're accompanied by their teacher, Catherine Pisano.

CHAIRPERSON 1: I'd now like to introduce to you the 3 judges for today's event. They are Lloyd Cameron, Gila Adams, and Will Glasson. From 1994 until 2017, Lloyd Cameron was speaking competition officer for the NSW Department of Education. In the position, he managed several statewide programs in debating, public speaking, and spelling for students at secondary and primary levels and coordinated this competition in its first year in 2004.

He served as a council member of the NSW English Teachers Association and national chairperson of the Plain English Speaking Award. He is the author of over 30 study guides to English and drama texts. He was a frequent lecturer to senior students. He taught English, history, drama in both state and private systems and he marked the HSC for 9 years.

Gila Adams has been a primary school educator for over 20 years. She has been leading school for the past 15 years in both assistant and relieving principal position. Gila currently works as one of the 2 primary English advisors for the NSW Department of Education. She has a passion for all things English and absolutely loves her role and the many exciting challenges it presents.

Gila has worked in both public and independent schools across Queensland, NSW and in Scotland. As well as working in schools, she has worked at both the University of Wollongong and the University of NSW Global.

Will Glasson is a principal at The Pocket Public School located in the hinterland of Byron Bay. Will has a diverse career working in a variety of settings, both in NSW and the United Kingdom. He passionately believes in public education being able to support students to excel in their chosen area, just like our spelling superstars today.

CHAIRPERSON 2: It is now my pleasure to introduce our announcer for the competition, Josh Szeps. Josh is the host of 'Afternoons with Josh Szeps' on ABC Radio Sydney and the former anchor of 'Weekend Breakfast' on ABC TV. He grew up in Sydney and went to Fort Street High, then Sydney Uni and UTS, where he competed at the Australasian Debating Tournament in Manila.

After working for Alan Jones and Mike Cartman, Josh moved to New York, where he became a founding host and producer of 'HuffPost Live', the multi-award-winning TV network that revolutionised how celebrities and viewers interact. Josh lives in Sydney with his husband and twin toddlers. He loves dogs but finds dolphins smug. He's a professional fellow at the University of Technology, Sydney. Surprisingly, he hates Scrabble. Ladies and gentlemen, Josh Szeps.

[applause]

ANNOUNCER: Thank you. Don't worry about Szeps. It's tricky at a spelling bee spelling. I mean, this is the Premier's Spelling Bee. When I was your age, we had easy-to-spell premiers like Fahey and Greiner and Carr. And now we have Perrottet with a silent T and Berejiklian. Don't get me started on Palaszczuk.

You guys are amazing for being here. You should feel successful. Are you a little bit nervous? Do you feel like you're a bit constrained? Just sit up and breathe is my advice if you're a bit nervous. Take a nice deep breath. Breathe out. It doesn't really matter. It's just a competition.

It's better to have a warm heart and a cool head than a cold heart and a hot head in situations like this. That's what I always try to tell myself. Here's how today will work. There'll be a practice round using simple words to get you familiar with the format. And no one will be eliminated during this initial round of just one word, one sentence per contestant.

Then there'll be elimination rounds of increasing difficulty. If you spell a word incorrectly, you won't proceed to the next round. I'll read out each word, followed by a sentence that includes the word, and then I'll repeat the word again. You'll need to repeat the word so we know you heard it correctly, then spell the word. And then say the word again so we know that you've finished spelling it.

You can ask me to repeat the word if you want to. You can correct yourself, but you need to tell me that you're starting over if you were going to correct yourself, OK? So if you stop halfway through a word, just say, I'm going to start from the beginning again. You've got 45 seconds to spell each word. You'll get one warning bell at 30 seconds, and then you'll hear 2 bells when the time is up.

At the second bell, whether you finish your word or not, that'll be taken as your final answer, so you do need to be finished before you hear that second chime. Eventually, there will be but one hero standing, 'Hunger Games' style. The winner is whoever gets the most words right.

Now, if everyone in a round misspells their word, then no one gets eliminated. You don't all go home. We just keep chugging along. Contestants, congratulations. Welcome to the Premier's Spelling Bee. When your name is announced, please come to the centre microphone as we begin the Premier's Spelling Bee junior state final for 2022. Let's meet the contestants. Sam Conroy-Liddle. Come on up. Sam, yes.

[applause]

You can give Sam a round of applause. Good day, Sam.

SAM CONROY-LIDDLE: Hey.

ANNOUNCER: You're 10?

SAM CONROY-LIDDLE: Mm-hmm.

ANNOUNCER: In Year 4 at Copacabana Public School?

SAM CONROY-LIDDLE: Uh-huh.

ANNOUNCER: Sam says that he likes sport, reading, and music and dislikes cauliflower-- a good choice.

[laughter]

Sam admires David Bowie for his abstract music style. His favourite movie is 'Cool Runnings.' You know this is not the 1980s anymore, Sam? If Sam had a superpower, it would be invisibility because then he could eat all the snacks.

[laughter]

Also an excellent choice. When Sam finishes school, he'd like to be a musician, actor, and sports star. Ambitious, Sam. I like to see it. Should we do a practice word?

SAM CONROY-LIDDLE: OK.

ANNOUNCER: Your practice word is snack. Because Sam was invisible, nobody could see him stealing the snack.

SAM CONROY-LIDDLE: Snack, S-N-A-C-K, snack.

ANNOUNCER: Correct. Very good. Thank you, Sam.

[applause]

Nila Dinesh. You can come on up, Nila. Nila is 8 in Year 2 at Girraween Public School. Hey, Nila. You might need to put the microphone down a little bit, I think. Or just stand really close to it. That's OK. It won't bite. It's not a hungry shark. Nila like Play-Doh and ice cream and kiwifruit and doesn't like it when her brother enters the room.

[laughter]

I'm the same way, Nila. Nila loves Tamil music and her favourite word is rainbow. She admires her teacher, Mrs Thorpe, and wants to be a teacher when she grows up. Should we do a practice word, Nila? OK, the practice word is brother. Nila loves her brother even when he's annoying. Brother.

NILA DINESH: Brother, B-R-O-T-H-E-R, brother.

ANNOUNCER: Perfect.

[applause]

William Weatherall, come on up. William is 9 in Year 3 at Coonabarabran Public School. He likes building Lego and doesn't like cleaning. Who does? William's favourite TV show is the Simpsons. His favourite word is onomatopoeia because it's hard to spell. He'd choose super speed as his superpower and would like to be a palaeontologist when he grows up.

Welcome, William. Your practice word is clean. Cleaning was William's favourite household chore. He was always volunteering to clean the bathroom.

WILLIAM WEATHERALL: Clean, C-L-E-A-N, Clean.

ANNOUNCER: Good on you. Correct.

[applause]

Belle Vong is 9 years old. Come on up. Belle, in Year 4 at Merimbula Public School. She likes drawing and going on walks. Belle's favourite word and favourite food is rice. Her superpower would be the ability to fly, mostly because people take too long getting off the school bus. Yes. When Belle finishes school, she'd like to get in her car and drive home. [laughs] Your practice word, Belle, is bus. Belle takes the bus to school because she can't fly.

BELLE VONG: Bus, B-U-S, bus.

ANNOUNCER: Perfect. Good on you.

[applause]

Nicholas Paton is 10 years old, in Year 4 at The Rock Central School. Good day, Nicholas. Nick hates being bored and likes always having something interesting to do. Nicholas' favourite school subjects are drama and science. He admires Elon Musk because he creates things that help humanity. Give it a couple of months, mate.

[laughter]

See what Twitter's like then. Nicholas would like to be an engineer when he grows up. Nicholas, your practice word is help. Nicholas wanted to work in a job that would help people.

NICHOLAS PATON: Help, H-E-L-P, help.

ANNOUNCER: Perfect. Good on you.

[applause]

Maahir Hasija is 9 years old, in Year 4 at Baulkham Hills North Public School. He likes reading and cricket but doesn't like hospital food. No, who does, Maahir? Maahir admires his grandpa for his intelligence and his humour. His favourite book is 'Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from Outer Space' by Dav Pilkey. Maahir would like to be an entrepreneur when he finishes school. Maahir, welcome. Your practice word is book. Maahir picked the book because of its incredibly long title.

MAAHIR HASIJA: Book, B-- could I restart?

ANNOUNCER: Yes.

MAAHIR HASIJA: Book, B-O-O-K, book.

ANNOUNCER: Perfect. Thank you, Maahir.

[applause]

Dasha Soto, come on up. Dasha is 10, in Year 4 at Niagara Park Public. She likes rescuing birds and riding anything with wheels. Dasha has a big family, including her birds Peaches, Hush, Buddy, and Bean, her guinea pig, Cloudy, and her frog, Una Rojo. Her favourite word is daffodil, and she loves listening to the Hamilton soundtrack or any other music from the 80s. When she grows up, Dasha would like to be an avian veterinarian. Your practice word, Dasha, is bird. Dasha had lots of pets, but her bird Peaches was her favourite.

DASHA SOTO: Bird, B-I-R-D, bird.

ANNOUNCER: Perfect. Good on you.

[applause]

Welcome, Dasha. Luca Flinn, you can come on up. Luca is 10, in Year 4 at Thirroul Public School. She likes gymnastics and has a Labrador named Terry. Luca admires Simone Biles because of her world-class achievements and also because she inspires her to be a better gymnast. Her favourite word is eucalyptus and her favourite subject at school is art. Luca would like to be a gymnast when she grows up. Welcome, Luca. Your practice word is art. Luca was learning about the rule of thirds in her art class.

LUCA FLINN: Art, A-R-T, art.

ANNOUNCER: Perfect. Good on you.

[applause]

Misato Heming, come on up. Misato is 9, in Year 4 at Wideview Public School. Her favourite subject at school is maths, but she doesn't like cleaning or vegetables. Do you like cleaning vegetables?

MISATO HEMING: No.

ANNOUNCER: No. Worst of both worlds there. Her favourite book is 'Wonder' by RJ Palacio and her favourite music is the Phantom of the Opera. If Misato could choose a superpower, it would be to heal people. She'd like to be a doctor when she grows up. Your practice word, Misato, is maths. Misato does her maths homework every day so she can study medicine at University.

MISATO HEMING: Maths, M-A-T-H-S, maths.

ANNOUNCER: Perfect. Good on you, Misato.

[applause]

Annabelle. Hi, Annabelle. Annabelle Mitchell is 9, in Year 3 at Gunnedah South Public School. Her favourite foods include pizza, ice cream, and blueberries, but she dislikes doughnuts. Annabelle.

[laughter]

Doughnuts are delicious. What if I put ice cream on the doughnuts and blueberries? No, not having it. Annabelle looks up to Cathy Freeman because she was an outstanding athlete as well as being a great role model. If she had a superpower, it would be invisibility so she could hide from people and would easily win a game of hide-and-seek. She'd like to be a teacher or a singer when she grows up. Annabelle, can you guess what your practice word is?

ANNABELLE MITCHELL: Probably not.

ANNOUNCER: Donut.

[laughter]

Annabelle had a nightmare that she was chased by a donut.

ANNABELLE MITCHELL: [laughs] Donut, D-O-U-G-H-N-U-T, doughnut.

ANNOUNCER: Can I get an OK on that? Well, I've got D-O-N-U-T, but I'm going to give it to you because it's a practice round and that's the correct spelling, anyway. Good on you, Annabelle.

ANNABELLE MITCHELL: It's American.

ANNOUNCER: American spelling, you're right.

[laughter]

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie. Mia Shou is 8 in Year 3 at Concord Public School. She loves playing with her sisters, Matilda and Merida. Mia doesn't like the inconsistencies of English spelling. Yes. Join the club, Mia. Her favourite foods include cucumber, milk tea, and persimmons. The most underrated of all fruits, I find, the persimmon. When she finishes school, she'd like to read all of the books in the world. Mia, your practice word is sister. Mia couldn't choose who her favourite sister was.

MIA SHOU: Sister, S-I-S-T-E-R, sister.

ANNOUNCER: Perfect. Good on you, Mia.

[applause]

Gabriel. Hello, Gabriel. Gabriel Clark is 10 in Year 4 at Cammeray Public School. 'The Hunger Games' series are both his favourite book and film series. His favourite word is oof. And if he could choose a superpower, he'd love to create teleportation portals to travel anywhere in the universe. When he finishes school, he'd like to travel around the world. Your practice word, Gabriel, is travel. Gabriel decided to travel to Egypt as he'd always wanted to see the Pyramids of Giza.

GABRIEL CLARK: Travel, T-R-A-V-E-L, travel.

ANNOUNCER: Perfect. Good on you, Gabriel.

[applause]

Liba, come on up. Liba Idrees is 10 years old and in Year 4 at Hassall Grove Public School. Her favourite subject is maths because she loves solving riddles. Liba loves macaroni and cheese but not pineapple on pizza. She knows they don't belong there. They don't. You're right, Liba. She has a pet macaw named Rio who has excellent bite strength and yells like a rock star. When Liba finishes school, she'd like to pursue a career as a candy maker. Your practice word is blue. The blue macaw is critically endangered in the wild.

LIBA IDREES: Blue, B-L-U-E, blue.

ANNOUNCER: Perfect. Good on you.

[applause]

And please welcome Isaac Hood. Isaac is 9, in Year 3 at Jesmond Public School. He likes chess, fonts, and tall buildings. The practice word is twin. So the sentence is Isaac was always being asked if he was a twin.

ISAAC HOOD: Twin is spelled T-W-I-N.

[applause]

ANNOUNCER: Perfect.

ISAAC HOOD: And I am--

ANNOUNCER: Good on you.

ISAAC HOOD: And I am a twin.

ANNOUNCER: You're allowed to sit down now, mate. Thank you. Zachary. Come on up, Zachary. Zachary Forgie. Forgie or Forgie, Zach?

ZACHARY FORGIE: Forgie.

ANNOUNCER: Forgie, perfect. Zach is 10, in Year 4 at Samuel Gilbert Public School. He likes sports, including soccer, athletics, basketball, and cricket, and admires Cristiano Ronaldo for his soccer skills and tenacity. Zachary's favourite food is pizza and he doesn't like broccoli or cabbage. He'd like to be a sports player when he grows up. Your practice word, Zachary, is sport. Zachary's talent was being able to play any sport he turned his hand to.

ZACHARY FORGIE: Sport, S-P-O-R-T, sport.

ANNOUNCER: Good on you.

[applause]

Kade Strong is 10 and in Year 4 at Tamworth Public School. He likes rugby league, maths, and art but doesn't like pumpkin soup. A good choice, Kade. Kade's favourite movie is 'Space Jam.' He looks up to James Tedesco for his great football skill. Kade would like to become a football player or a builder when he finishes school. Your practice word, Kade, is not pumpkin but it is soup. Kade was happy to hear they were eating chicken noodle soup and not pumpkin soup.

KADE STRONG: Soup, S-O-U-P, soup.

ANNOUNCER: Good on you, Kade.

[applause]

Safana Mehwish is 8 years old, in Year 3 at Wallsend South Public School. She likes reading and art, but not maths or ball games. Safana looks up to her sister because she's good at lots of things that Safana isn't. If she had a superpower, it would be invisibility so she could sneak around without being spotted. When Safana finishes school, she'd like to go to university to study. Your practice word, Safana, is sneak. Safana tiptoed quietly so she could sneak up behind her sister and surprise her.

SAFANA MEHWISH: Sneak, S-N-E-A-K, sneak.

ANNOUNCER: Good on you, Safana. Good luck.

[applause]

Lucy Le is 10 years old, in Year 4 at Towradgi Public School. She likes drawing, talking to friends, and sleeping. Doesn't like washing dishes or gardening. Lucy's favourite food is Korean fried chicken and she admires Ado, a young Japanese singer who's very talented. If she had a superpower, it would be telekinesis so she can move things around without ever getting up. And when she finishes school, Lucy wants to become a graphic designer or an architect. Hi, Lucy, welcome. Your practice word is dishes. Lucy sighed loudly when her dad asked her to help dry the dishes.

LUCY LE: Dishes, D-I-S-H-E-S, dishes.

ANNOUNCER: Perfect.

[applause]

Good on you. Saarth, come on up. Saarth Deo is 9 years old, in Year 4 at Wentworthville Public School. Saarth likes playing cricket and learning about geography. His favourite food is pasta with cheese, favourite movies are the 'Harry Potter' films. He also likes rap music. Saarth would like to be a cricketer and a scientist when he finishes school. Saarth, your practice word is pasta. Pasta with cheese is a tasty meal to eat at lunch.

SAARTH DEO: Pasta, P-A-S-T-A, pasta.

ANNOUNCER: Perfect. Good on your, Saarth. Good luck.

[applause]

Elita Taslim is 8 years old, in Year 3 at Kogarah Public School. Her favourite word is compassion and she likes swimming. Elita's favourite food is sushi but she doesn't like cheese pizza. If she had a superpower, it would be invisibility so she could do whatever she wanted whenever she wanted. When she finishes school, Elita would like to become a scientist. Your practice word, Elita, is sushi. Elita asked her mum if they could go to a sushi restaurant to celebrate her birthday.

ELITA TASLIM: Sushi, S-U-S-H-I, sushi.

ANNOUNCER: Good on you, Elita.

[applause]

Arthur Vu is 10, in Year 4 at Canley Vale Public School. He likes playing on his iPad and winning trophies. Arthur doesn't like bullies or losing. His favourite foods are instant noodles and karaage chicken and he likes classical music. Arthur's favourite word is ultimate. When he finishes school, he'd like to be a race car driver. Your practice word, Arthur, is instant. The instant noodles took several minutes to prepare.

ARTHUR VU: Instant, I-N-S-T-A-N-T, instant.

ANNOUNCER: Good on you.

[applause]

Winston Lau. Come on up, Winston. Winston's 9, in Year 4 at Carlingford West Public School. He likes maths, English, and chess and doesn't like sports. Winston admires his mum because she's very good at almost everything. His favourite book is 'Animal Farm.' That's a very grown-up book, Winston. It's a metaphor. And when he finishes school, Arthur would like to become a doctor. The practice word, Arthur, is farm. George Orwell's Animal Farm is a political fable based on the events of the Bolshevik Revolution.

WINSTON LAU: Farm, F-A-R-M, farm. Good on you, Winston.

[applause]

Bolshevik comes later.

[laughter]

Wade Clarkson is 10, in Year 4 at Franklin Public School. He likes gaming, sleeping, and chicken nuggets. Wade doesn't like bugs and especially doesn't like ants. Yeah, they're the worst of the bugs, aren't they?

WADE CLARKSON: Always bite me.

ANNOUNCER: They always bite you. What about bees?

WADE CLARKSON: Never have stung me.

ANNOUNCER: Never been stung. Yeah, avoid it, my advice. He admires his parents because they make great food. Wade's favourite TV show is Stranger Things. And if he had a superpower, it would be invisibility so he could confuse people. When he finishes school, he'd like to become an actor. Your practice word, Wade, I'm sorry to say, is ants. When Wade saw the trail of fire ants at his feet, he ran like the wind.

WADE CLARKSON: Ants, A-N-T-S, ants.

ANNOUNCER: Good on you, Wade.

[applause]

Sam. Sam Dunlop is 10, in Year 4 at Orange Public School. He likes Formula One, hotel buffet breakfasts, and World War II history, and doesn't like loud dogs. Sam's favourite TV show is Young Sheldon. You look a bit like Young Sheldon, Sam.

[laughter]

It's a compliment.

SAM DUNLOP: Some can say.

ANNOUNCER: Yeah. And Sam's favourite author is David Walliams. When he finishes school, he'd like to be a mechanic for a Formula One team before studying automotive engineering and taking over the Rolls-Royce corporation. Why not? Your practice word, Sam, is hotel. Sam liked the smell of freshly cooked bacon at the hotel buffet.

SAM DUNLOP: Hotel, H-O-T-E-L, hotel.

ANNOUNCER: Good on you, Sam.

[applause]

Heeji, come on up. Heeji Park is 9 years old, in Year 3 at Lidcombe Public School. She likes writing narratives, reading Harry Potter, and playing netball, and doesn't like bullies or eating mushrooms. Heeji admires her grandma because she's a good listener and has great ideas. Her favourite word is supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

[laughter]

You're just saying that to trip me up, aren't you, Heeji? And if she had a superpower, it would be to teleport to visit family and other countries. Heeji would like to be a doctor when she grows up. Heeji, your practice word is idea. Grandma had the cheeky idea to play a prank on Heeji's mum and dad.

HEEJI PARK: Idea, I-D-E-A, idea. Good on you, Heeji.

[applause]

Zaim, come on up. Zaim Ziham is 10 years old, in Year 4 at Beaumont Hills Public School. He likes basketball, watching anime, and his pet cats Nina and Oli. Zaim admires his parents because no matter how busy they are, they always make time for him. His favourite food is steak and chips and his favourite music is from Dua Lipa. When he finishes school, Zaim would like to become a doctor and also play professional basketball. Zaim, your practice word is chips. Zaim ate chips with salt and vinegar at the beach.

ZAIM ZIHAM: Chips, C-H-I-P-S, chips.

ANNOUNCER: Good on you, Zaim.

[applause]

Ferdinand, come up. Ferdinand Ekajaya is 9 years old, in Year 3 at Bourke Street Public School. He likes playing video games and watching movies. Doesn't like heights or the dark. Ferdinand's favourite school subject is technology and his favourite book is 'Gangsta Granny' by David Walliams. His favourite word is kabaragoya-- a type of water monitor native to Asia. Have you seen one of those, Ferdinand?

FERDINAND EKAJAYA: No.

ANNOUNCER: Wow, sounds impressive. Ferdinand would like to be a computer programmer when he grows up. Your practice word, Ferdinand, is granny. The grandma in 'Gangster Granny' is an international jewel thief.

FERDINAND EKAJAYA: Say the word again.

ANNOUNCER: Granny. The grandma in the book 'Gangsta Granny' is an international jewel thief. Granny.

FERDINAND EKAJAYA: Granny, G-R-A-N-N-Y, Granny. Perfect, Ferdinand. Thank you.

[applause]

Sydney Duong is 10 years old, in Year 4 at Newbridge Heights Public School. He likes travelling to Japan and doesn't like eating broccoli. Sydney looks up to Neil Armstrong because he proved that humans can do anything no matter how far-fetched an idea may seem. His favourite song is Grenade by Bruno Mars. And if he could choose a superpower, he'd control the wind. When Sydney finishes school, he'd like to become a surgeon. Your practice word, Sydney, is wind. Sydney used his power to control the wind to bring home boats stranded at sea.

SYDNEY DUONG: Wind, W-I-N-D, wind. Good on you, Sydney.

[applause]

And our final 2, Charlotte. Charlotte Kessels is 10, in Year 4 at Bungwahi Public School. She likes playing 'Roblox,' animals, and writing stories. Charlotte's favourite books are the 'Wolf Girl' series and her favourite word is love. If she had a superpower, Charlotte would like to be a shapeshifter so she could become any animal she wanted and live amongst them. When she finishes school, she'd like to be a vet. Charlotte, welcome. Your practice word is animal. Charlotte shapeshifted into her favourite animal, a baby giraffe.

CHARLOTTE KESSELS: Animal, A-N-I-M-A-L, animal.

ANNOUNCER: Good on you, Charlotte.

[applause]

Aayan, come on up. Aayan Rahman, 9 years old, Year 4 at Canterbury Public School. He likes playing video games, doesn't like spicy food. Aayan has 4 siblings, including 3 sisters who are triplets. His favourite book is 'The Magic School Bus' and his favourite word is experiment. Aayan would like the power to change the size of objects so he could increase food for starving people, as well as make mice smaller to help farmers. He would like to be a scientist when he grows up. Your practice word, Aayan, is spicy. Aayan asked for the dish to be made mild rather than spicy.

AAYAN RAHMAN: Spicy, S-P-I-C-Y, spicy.

ANNOUNCER: Good on you, Aayan.

[applause]

So that concludes the practice round. You've met all of our participants. We will now start the elimination round. So I'll hand back to our student officials from Epping Public School.

CHAIRPERSON 1: Thank you, Mr Szeps. Welcome to our first round of the Junior Final of this Premier's Spelling Bee.

CHAIRPERSON 2: May I call to the microphone, Sam Conroy-Liddle?

ANNOUNCER: OK, first question, first round. Classified. We were not allowed to access the information because it was classified. Classified.

SAM CONROY-LIDDLE: Classified, C-L-A-S-S-I-F-I-E-D, classified.

ANNOUNCER: Good on you, Sam.

[applause]

CHAIRPERSON 2: May I call to the microphone William Weatherall?

ANNOUNCER: Hey, William. Your first word is phobia. Alison has a phobia about flying. Phobia.

WILLIAM WEATHERALL: Phobia, P-H-O-B-I-A, phobia.

ANNOUNCER: That's correct. Good on you, William.

CHAIRPERSON 1: Can I please call to the microphone, Belle Vong from Merimbula Public School?

ANNOUNCER: Belle, your word is enviable. My sister has an enviable job involving lots of travel overseas. Enviable.

BELLE VONG: Enviable, E-N-V-I-A-B-L-E, enviable.

ANNOUNCER: Great. I couldn't quite hear one word there-- one letter there, but I'll take it. Thank you so much.

CHAIRPERSON 2: May I call to the microphone, Nick Paton from Rock Central School?

ANNOUNCER: Hey, Nicholas. Your first word is device. This device counts each step you take. Device.

NICHOLAS PATON: Device, D-E-V-I-C-E, device. Good on you, Nicholas. That's correct.

CHAIRPERSON 1: May I call to the microphone Maahir Hasija from Baulkham Hills North Public School?

ANNOUNCER: Hi, Maahir. Your first question is dispel. The news item about skiing accidents has done nothing to dispel my doubts about our plans for a holiday in the snow. Dispel.

MAAHIR HASIJA: Dispel, D-I-S-P-E-L, dispel.

ANNOUNCER: That's correct, Maahir.

CHAIRPERSON 2: May I call to the microphone Dasha Soto from Niagara Park Public School?

ANNOUNCER: Your word is ballad. Most people find that a ballad is the easiest type of song to sing. Ballad.

DASHA SOTO: Ballad, B-A-L-L-A-D, ballad.

ANNOUNCER: Correct Thank you, Dasha. CHAIRPERSON 1: May I call to the microphone Luca Flinn from Thirroul Public School?

ANNOUNCER: Hi, Luca. Your first word is apparent. Her red face made it apparent she was embarrassed. Apparent.

LUCA FLINN: Apparent, A-P-P-A-R-E-N-T, apparent.

ANNOUNCER: Correct. Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON 2: May I call to the microphone Misato Hemming from Wideview Public School?

ANNOUNCER: Welcome, Misato. Your first word is supersonic. He'd like to be a pilot and fly supersonic jets. Supersonic.

MISATO HEMING: Supersonic, S-U-P-E-R-S-O-N-I-C, supersonic.

ANNOUNCER: Correct.

CHAIRPERSON 1: May I call to the microphone Annabelle Mitchell from Gunnedah South Public School?

ANNOUNCER: Hey, Annabelle. Your first word is dimensions. We had to check the dimensions of the doorway to make sure there was enough room to get the couch through. Dimensions.

ANNABELLE MITCHELL: Dimensions, D-I-M-E-N-S-I-O-N-S, dimensions.

ANNOUNCER: Good on you. Correct.

CHAIRPERSON 2: May I call to the microphone Mia Shou from Concord Public School?

ANNOUNCER: Hi, Mia. Your first word is marriage. My parents have had a very long and happy marriage. Marriage.

MIA SHOU: Marriage, M-A-R-R-I-A-G-E, marriage.

ANNOUNCER: That's correct.

CHAIRPERSON 1: May I call to the microphone Gabriel Clark from Cammeray Public School?

ANNOUNCER: Hey, Gabriel.

GABRIEL CLARK: Hello.

ANNOUNCER: Hi, your first word will be crystal. I love how the crystal in my pendant sparkles in the light. Crystal.

GABRIEL CLARK: Crystal, C-R-Y-S-T-A-L, crystal.

ANNOUNCER: That's correct, Gabriel.

CHAIRPERSON 2: May I call to the microphone Liba Idrees from Hassall Grove Public School?

ANNOUNCER: Your first word today will be sequel. It was so disappointing that the sequel was such a flop. The original was so good. Sequel.

LIBA IDREES: Sequel, S-E-Q-U-E-A-- wait, can I do it again?

ANNOUNCER: Yes.

LIBA IDREES: A sequel, S-E-Q-U-E-L, sequel.

ANNOUNCER: That's correct.

CHAIRPERSON 1: May I call to the microphone Isaac Hood from Jesmond Public School?

ANNOUNCER: Hi, Isaac. Your first word is parable. The parable of the good Samaritan is quite well known. Parable.

ISAAC HOOD: Parable, P-A-R-A-B-L-E, parable.

ANNOUNCER: That's correct, Isaac.

CHAIRPERSON 2: May I call to the microphone Zachary Forgie from Samuel Gilbert Public School?

ANNOUNCER: Hey, Zachary. Your first word today is bodysurf. We're going to bodysurf all day when we go to the beach for our holiday. Bodysurf.

Zachary Forgie: Bodysurf, B-O-D-Y-S-U-R-F, bodysurf.

ANNOUNCER: That's right.

CHAIRPERSON 1: May I call to the microphone Kade Strong from Tamworth Public School?

ANNOUNCER: Your first word is timekeeper. The timekeeper used to rely on a stopwatch. Timekeeper.

KADE STRONG: Timekeeper, T-I-M-E-K-E-E-P-E-R, timekeeper.

ANNOUNCER: Perfect. Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON 2: May I call to the microphone Safana Mehwish from Wallsend South Public School?

ANNOUNCER: Hi, Safana. Your first word is default. We had to default because half the team was sick. Default.

SAFANA MEHWISH: May you repeat the word?

ANNOUNCER: Yes. Default. We had to default because half the team was sick. Default.

SAFANA MEHWISH: May you repeat the word?

ANNOUNCER: Sure. Default.

SAFANA MEHWISH: Can I have the definition?

ANNOUNCER: No. The sentence is we had to default because half the team was sick. And the word is default.

SAFANA MEHWISH: D-E-F-A-U-L-T, default.

ANNOUNCER: That's correct.

CHAIRPERSON 1: May I please call to the microphone Lucy Le from Towradgi Public School.

ANNOUNCER: Hey, Lucy. Your first word is calculator. I'd rather use a calculator than work out problems in my head. Calculator.

LUCY LE: Calculator, C-A-L-C-U-L-A-T-O-R, calculator.

ANNOUNCER: That's correct. Thanks, Lucy.

CHAIRPERSON 2: May I call to the microphone Saarth Deo from Wentworthville Public School.

ANNOUNCER: Hi, Saarth.

SAARTH DEO: Hi.

ANNOUNCER: Your first word today is drainage. The soil in this area has extremely good drainage even after heavy rain. Drainage.

SAARTH DEO: Drainage, D-R-A-I-N-A-G-E, drainage.

ANNOUNCER: Perfect. Thanks, Saarth.

CHAIRPERSON 1: May I please call to the microphone Elita Taslim from Kogarah Public School?

ANNOUNCER: Hi, Elita. Your first word is eligible. Because his birthday fell in April, he was eligible for the older team. Eligible.

ELITA TASLIM: Eligible, E-L-I-G-I-B-L-E, eligible.

ANNOUNCER: That's correct.

CHAIRPERSON 2: May I call to the microphone Arthur Vu from Canley Vale Public School?

ANNOUNCER: Hi, Arthur. Your first word is applaud. The crowd began to applaud as she bowed at the end of her performance. Applaud.

ARTHUR VU: Applaud, A-P-P-L-A-U-D, applaud.

ANNOUNCER: That's correct, Arthur.

CHAIRPERSON 1: May I please call to the microphone Winston Lau from Carlingford West Public School?

ANNOUNCER: Hi, Winston, welcome. Your first word today is ratio. The male-to-female ratio of students in our school is about 4 to 3. Ratio.

WINSTON LAU: Ratio, R-A-T-I-O, ratio.

ANNOUNCER: That's right, Winston.

CHAIRPERSON 2: May I call to the microphone Wade Clarkson from Franklin Public School?

ANNOUNCER: Your first word today is exercise. Walking in the fresh air is good exercise. Exercise.

WADE CLARKSON: Exercise, E-X-E-R-C-I-S-E, exercise.

ANNOUNCER: That's right.

CHAIRPERSON 1: May I call to the microphone Sam Dunlop from Orange Public School?

ANNOUNCER: Hey, Sam.

SAM DUNLOP: Hi.

ANNOUNCER: Your first word today is telescope. We used a telescope to look at the Space Station as it passed overhead. Telescope.

SAM DUNLOP: Telescope, T-E-L-E-S-C-O-P-E, telescope.

ANNOUNCER: Good on you. Correct.

CHAIRPERSON 2: May I call to the microphone Heeji Park from Lidcombe Public School?

ANNOUNCER: Your first word today is hospital. I had to go to hospital when I broke my leg. Hospital.

HEEJI PARK: Hospital, H-O-S-P-I-T-A-L, hospital.

ANNOUNCER: That's right.

CHAIRPERSON 1: May I call to the microphone Zaim Ziham from Beaumont Hills Public School?

ANNOUNCER: Your word is numerous. We found numerous ants in our picnic basket when we went to eat our lunch. Numerous.

ZAIM ZIHAM: Numerous, N-U-M-E-R-O-U-S, numerous.

ANNOUNCER: That's correct.

CHAIRPERSON 2: May I call to the microphone Ferdinand Ekajaya from Bourke Street Public School?

ANNOUNCER: Your first word today is archery. We tried archery on our school camp and I shot an arrow into the bull's eye. Archery.

FERDINAND EKAJAYA: Archery, A-R-C-H-E-R-Y, archery.

ANNOUNCER: That's correct, Ferdinand.

CHAIRPERSON 1: May I call to the microphone Sydney Duong from Newbridge Heights Public School?

ANNOUNCER: Your first word today is boulder. He jumped onto a boulder in the middle of the creek. Boulder.

SYDNEY DUONG: Boulder, B-O-U-L-D-E-R, boulder.

ANNOUNCER: Good on you.

CHAIRPERSON 2: May I call to the microphone Charlotte Kessels from Bungwahi Public School?

ANNOUNCER: Your first word today is audition. Connie was very nervous about her audition for the school play. Audition.

CHARLOTTE KESSELS: Audition, A-U-D-I-T-O-N, audition.

ANNOUNCER: Unfortunately, not. It's A-U-D-I-T-I-O-N, audition. But thank you. You can now take a seat.

CHAIRPERSON 1: May I call to the microphone Aayan Rahman from Canterbury Public School?

ANNOUNCER: Hey, Aayan.

AAYAN RAHMAN: Hi.

ANNOUNCER: Your first word is decider. Our soccer team has to play a decider this weekend as there's a draw for the championship. Decider.

AAYAN RAHMAN: Decider, D-E-C-I-D-E-R, Decider.

ANNOUNCER: That's correct. And that's the end of round one. Excellent. Good work, everybody.

[applause]

CHAIRPERSON 1: Maahir Hasija.

ANNOUNCER: Maahir, your word is stethoscope. The doctor placed the stethoscope on my back and listened while I took a deep breath. Stethoscope.

MAAHIR HASIJA: Stethoscope, S-T-E-T-H-I-S-C-O-P-E, stethoscope.

ANNOUNCER: Stethoscope. Unfortunately, not stethiscope. S-T-E-T-H-O-S-C-O-P-E. Thank you, Maahir. Good job.

CHAIRPERSON 2: Dasha Soto.

ANNOUNCER: Dasha, your word is fluoride. The toothpaste I use contains fluoride to keep my teeth strong. Fluoride.

DASHA SOTO: Fluoride, F-L-U-O-R-I-D-E, fluoride.

ANNOUNCER: That's right.

CHAIRPERSON 1: Mia Shou.

ANNOUNCER: Mia, your word is surpass. The relay team we put together was able to surpass all the others entered in the race. Surpass.

MIA SHOU: Surpass, S-U-R-P-A-S, surpass.

ANNOUNCER: That's right.

CHAIRPERSON 2: Isaac Hood.

ANNOUNCER: Isaac, your word this time is certitude. The witness identified the bank robber with certitude. Certitude.

ISAAC HOOD: Certitude, C-E-R-T-I-T-U-D-E.

ANNOUNCER: Say the word again.

ISAAC HOOD: Certitude.

ANNOUNCER: Good on you. That'll do.

CHAIRPERSON 1: Zachary Forgie.

ANNOUNCER: Zachary, your word is deterrent or deterrent. He wanted to go surfing but the big storm approaching was enough of a deterrent to stop him. Deterrent or deterrent.

ZACHARY FORGIE: Deterrent, D-E-T-E-R-R-E-N-T, deterrent.

ANNOUNCER: That's right.

CHAIRPERSON 2: Lucy Le.

ANNOUNCER: Lucy, your word is correspondence. There's a strong correspondence between the 2 stories. Correspondence.

LUCY LE: Correspondence, C-O-R-R-O-S-P-O-N-D-E-N-C-E, correspondence.

ANNOUNCER: It's tricky. It's correspondence, not corrospondence. C-O-R-R-E-S-P-O-N-D-E-N-C-E. Thanks, Lucy.

CHAIRPERSON 1: Saarth Deo.

ANNOUNCER: Saarth, your word is appreciable. There's been an appreciable increase in traffic since the holiday has ended. Appreciable.

SAARTH DEO: Appreciable, A-P-P-R-E-C-I-A-B-L-E, appreciable.

ANNOUNCER: That's correct, Saarth.

CHAIRPERSON 2: Wade Clarkson.

ANNOUNCER: Wade, your word is Hessian the potatoes came in bags of Hessian which made them easier to carry Hessian you please repeat the word Yeah Hessian the potatoes came in bags of hessian which made them easier to carry. Hessian.

WADE CLARKSON: Hessian, H-E-S-I-O-N, hessian.

ANNOUNCER: It's H-E-S-S-I-A-N. A weird word. Thanks.

CHAIRPERSON 2: Let's have a big round of applause as those eliminated students--

[applause]

ANNOUNCER: Out of over 150,000 students, we have 5 remaining.

CHAIRPERSON 2: Dasha Soto.

ANNOUNCER: Dasha, your word is tetanus or tetanus. These days, most people in Australia are immunised against tetanus so it's not very common. Tetanus or tetanus.

DASHA SOTO: Tetanus, T-E-T-A-N-U-S, tetanus.

ANNOUNCER: That's right.

CHAIRPERSON 1: Mia Shou.

ANNOUNCER: Mia, your word is philosophy. The question what is the purpose of life is often discussed in philosophy. Philosophy.

MIA SHOU: Philosophy, p-h-i-l-o-s-o-p-h-y, philosophy.

ANNOUNCER: That's right.

CHAIRPERSON 2: Isaac Hood.

ANNOUNCER: Isaac, your word this time is incumbent. The new mayor is more active in the community than the last incumbent of the office. Incumbent.

ISAAC HOOD: Incumbent, I-N-C-U-M-B-E-N-T, incumbent.

ANNOUNCER: You got it this time. Thank you. That's correct.

CHAIRPERSON 1: Zachary Forgie.

ANNOUNCER: Zachary, your word is poignant. The photo was a poignant reminder of home. Poignant.

ZACHARY FORGIE: Could you please say that again?

ANNOUNCER: Yeah. Poignant. The photo was a poignant reminder of home. Poignant.

ZACHARY FORGIE: Poignant, p-o-i-n-i-e-n-t. Could I please start again?

ANNOUNCER: Yes. P-O-I-N-U-E-N-T, poignant. It's a good guess. It's a weird word. P-O-I-G-N-A-N-T. Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON 2: Saarth Deo. Saarth, your word is turquoise. The colour of the water was a beautiful turquoise.

SAARTH DEO: Turquoise, T-U-R-Q-U-O-I-S-E, turquoise.

ANNOUNCER: That's right. So now we're down to 4.

CHAIRPERSON 1: Dasha Soto.

ANNOUNCER: Dasha, your next word is rehabilitate. I really liked the physiotherapist who helped me rehabilitate after my accident. Rehabilitate.

DASHA SOTO: Rehabilitate, R-E-H-A-B-I-L-I-T-A-T-E, rehabilitate.

ANNOUNCER: That's right.

CHAIRPERSON 2: Mia Shou.

ANNOUNCER: Mia, your word is resumption. The siren signalled the resumption of the game after halftime. Resumption.

MIA SHOU: Resumption, R-E-S-U-M-P-T-I-O-N, resumption.

ANNOUNCER: That's right.

CHAIRPERSON 1: Isaac Hood.

ANNOUNCER: Isaac, your next word is intermittent. There was intermittent rain all day, but the temperature stayed quite warm. Intermittent.

ISAAC HOOD: Intermittent, I-N-T-E-R-M-I-T-T-E-N-T, intermittent.

ANNOUNCER: That's the one. You got it.

CHAIRPERSON 2: Saarth Deo.

ANNOUNCER: Saarth, your next word is mystique. The strange occurrences added to the mystique of the old theatre. Mystique.

SAARTH DEO: Mystique, M-Y-S-T-I-Q-U-E, mystique.

ANNOUNCER: That's right.

[applause]

With no eliminations in this round, we just keep chugging along.

CHAIRPERSON 2: Dasha Soto.

ANNOUNCER: Dasha, your word is abysmal. Unfortunately, my attempt to cook a Pavlova was an abysmal failure. Abysmal.

DASHA SOTO: Abysmal, A-B-I-S-M-A-L, abysmal.

ANNOUNCER: A-B-Y-S-M-A-L, unfortunately. Thank you, Dasha.

CHAIRPERSON 1: Mia Shou.

ANNOUNCER: Mia, your word is suspicion. He is being held under suspicion of receiving stolen goods. Suspicion.

MIA SHOU: Suspicion, s-u-s-p-i-s-i-o-n, I suspicion.

ANNOUNCER: Unfortunately, it's a C. S-U-S-P-I-C-I-O-N. Thank you, Mia.

CHAIRPERSON 1: Isaac Hood.

ANNOUNCER: Isaac, your word is promontory or promontory or promontory. The promontory was the obvious site for the lighthouse. Promontory or promontory.

ISAAC HOOD: Promontory, P-R-O-M-O-N-T-O-R-Y, promontory.

ANNOUNCER: That's right.

CHAIRPERSON 1: Saarth Deo.

ANNOUNCER: Saarth, your word is psyche. Too much stress is not good for my psyche. Psyche.

SAARTH DEO: Psyche, P-S-Y-C-H-E, psyche.

ANNOUNCER: That's right.

[applause]

We have our final 2. Isaac Hood from Jasmine Public School and Saarth Deo from Wentworthville Public School. Congratulations to both of you.

[applause]

Let's continue.

CHAIRPERSON 1: Isaac Hood.

ANNOUNCER: Your next word is moccasin. A moccasin is a very comfortable shoe for wearing around the house. Moccasin.

ISAAC HOOD: Moccasin, M-O-C-K-A-S-O-N, moccasin.

ANNOUNCER: M-O-C-C-A-S-I-N. It's a funny one, Isaac. Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON 2: Saarth Deo.

ANNOUNCER: Saarth, your word is accredit. We accredit the invention of the incandescent light bulb to Thomas Edison. Accredit.

SAARTH DEO: Accredit, A-C-C-R-E-D-I-T, accredit.

[applause]

ANNOUNCER: And with that, we have a winner.

[cheering]

Congratulations, Saarth Deo from Wentworthville Public School, the winner of the 2022 NSW Premier's Spelling Bee.

TAMARA READS: Please join me in congratulating our outstanding speller, junior state champion of the 2022 Spelling Bee, Saarth Deo from Wentworthville Public School.

[applause]

That concludes our 2022 junior state final of the Premier's Spelling Bee. Thank you so much for coming.

[applause]

DOMINIC PERROTTET: Hi, everyone, just a quick message to apologise for missing the final of the Premier's Spelling Bee. I would have loved to have been there, but sadly, I was needed in another part of the state that day that has been impacted by the floods. I've checked, though, on how the day went and I heard there was a lot of impressive talent on display, tackling a lot of tricky words.

This is really exciting as literacy skills and vocabulary are such an important component in education. And I encourage all students to keep up their reading and spelling skills. A huge thank you to all the participants in this challenge. I hope you all enjoyed it. And keep up your hard work learning new words.

Can I congratulate the junior winner, Saarth Deo, a Year 4 student at Wentworthville Public, and also to Wilson Han, a Year 6 student from St Ives North, who won the senior award. A brilliant job and well done to all the schools for participating and supporting you on this journey. I wish you all the very best in the future.