When 18-year-old Ava Groves travelled from Nowra to Sydney for the State Final of the 2025 Regional Public Speaking Competition, she didn’t expect to leave Parliament House as one of the top three speakers in NSW.

“I was definitely surprised,” Groves said. “The competition was insane. Everyone there knew what they were doing, they're all experienced public speakers – I really didn’t expect it.”

Groves, who has just graduated from St John the Evangelist Catholic High School in South Nowra, represented the Queanbeyan round after winning her regional event earlier this year.

Groves taking third place next to Richard Marles

The State Final, held on 5 December, brought together six outstanding students from across regional NSW as part of the NSW Legislative Council’s Regional Roadshow program.

The program, launched during the Council’s Bicentenary, aims to strengthen young people’s connection with the democratic process by taking public speaking competitions and youth forums to regional centres.

This year’s roadshows visited Grafton, Queanbeyan, Tamworth, Griffith, Cessnock and Orange before finalists were selected to speak in the Legislative Council Chamber.

Groves’ prepared speech, titled “The lies we tell ourselves,” examined the small but constant fictions many people use as coping mechanisms – from insisting everything is fine to convincing ourselves we’re doing enough for causes like the environment.

“It wasn’t targeted at anyone,” she said. “It was more for the general public, because we all lie – there are always things we could be doing better.”

Despite being new to the craft, she found the impromptu section of the competition less daunting than expected.

“Everyone had the same 15 minutes to prepare,” she said.

“Not as much is expected of you compared to the prepared speech, so I felt more reassured. I could just get up there and talk.”

According to Groves, the regional finalists all got on very well. 

“We were all pretty close by the end,” she said. “Some of the places they were from I’d never even heard of.”

Finalists (not in order) Gabrielle Eveleigh, Maitland Grossmann High School, Ava Groves, St John The Evangelist Catholic High School, Nowra , Jonah Grimshaw, Condobolin High School, Hannah Lennon, St Paul's College - Walla Walla, Ben Reeve, Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School, Ruby Woods, Oxley High School

Groves hopes her achievement encourages other regional students to take chances on opportunities that may seem out of reach.

“People think regional towns are disadvantaged and don’t have as much opportunity, which can be true, but it’s also a myth,” she said.

“If someone like me, who’s never done anything like this, can give it a go, then anyone can.

"You’ve got nothing to lose.”

Ava Groves giving her prepared speech

She credits her parents for their steady support throughout the competition.

“They’ve listened to so many drafts and supported me non-stop. I wouldn’t have done it without them.”

With her HSC behind her, Groves is planning to study a combined law and arts degree at university – a path strengthened by her newfound confidence in public speaking.

“This really awakened my enjoyment of it,” she said. “If I pursue a legal career, it will absolutely benefit me.”

For Nowra, her success is both a personal milestone and a reminder of the talent thriving in regional communities when young people are given a platform to speak.