Launceston Toastmasters Club 2115

Another wonderful night at Launceston Toastmasters! There is so much joy and fun in each of our meetings, and tonight was no exception. Lots of speeches, plenty of belly laughs and a few tears too, as we farewelled Ali, who is moving away from Tasmania to follow his dreams.

Ali has been an integral part of our Launceston Toastmasters family and tonight he reflected on the growth, confidence and skills he has developed since becoming a member of our club. We wish Ali all the very best for the journey ahead. We will miss you!

Tonight we also reflected on the positive influence Toastmasters has on our lives. What we receive from Toastmasters isn't just public speaking skills. It is a sense of belonging to something good, something bright, something that encourages us to grow as people.

Here in Launceston, we are part of a club that is diverse, inclusive, welcoming, fun, entertaining, educational and positive. And perhaps that is the real gift of Toastmasters. We come for the speaking, but along the way, we find confidence, connection, friendship and a place where we all belong.

It has been such a pleasure to livestream the 2026 World Championship of Public Speaking from Vancouver, Canada this weekend.

And what a competition!

Congratulations to Dirceu Da Silva of the Netherlands, representing Region 10, District 59, who was named the 2026 World Champion of Public Speaking.

His winning speech was built around a powerful and wonderfully relatable idea: taking your shot. Using basketball as a metaphor, Dirceu explored the courage it takes to step up, take a risk and give yourself the chance to succeed. And clearly, he took his shot!

What makes this competition so remarkable is the journey.
The World Championship began in 1937 as an interclub speech contest. Today, it is the highlight of the Toastmasters International year, bringing together over 30,000 speakers from more than 100 countries.

The competition begins at club level and progresses through Area, Division, District and quarterfinal competitions, before the top speakers advance to the semifinals. This year, 26 semifinalists competed in Vancouver, with eight making it through to the World Championship final.

And every single one of those speakers has written and prepared their own original speech, with just five to seven minutes to make their story matter.

Launceston Toastmasters congratulates Dirceu on his incredible achievement, and every speaker who stepped onto a stage throughout this year's competition.

And now, we look forward to next year...

Paris, here we come!

The 2027 Toastmasters International Convention will be held in Paris, France, with the convention venue just a 15-minute walk from the Champs-Élysées!

We'd better start practising those speeches...

Have you got a presentation coming up at work?
Do you have to give a wedding speech?
Are you terrified of speaking up in meetings?
Want to tell better stories?
Wish you were more confident meeting new people?
Have you ever been asked to “say a few words” and panicked?
Would you like to feel more confident introducing yourself?

Maybe it’s time to practise.

Launceston Toastmasters
Come along. Have a go. Find your voice.

We meet on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month in Launceston CBD. Our next meeting is on Wednesday, 27th August at 7pm. Visitors always welcome. Fun is pretty much guaranteed.

Did you know that Launceston Toastmasters Club is a multi-award-winning club?

We are part of a global organisation, with more than 14,000 Toastmasters clubs across 150 countries around the world.

Over the years, Launceston Toastmasters has earned 15 Toastmasters International recognition awards, including:

• 1 Smedley Award
• 3 Beat the Clock Awards
• 4 President’s Distinguished Club Awards
• 3 Select Distinguished Club Awards
• 3 Distinguished Club Awards
• 1 Online Ovation Education Award – Silver

And our latest achievement? Distinguished Club 2026!

These awards recognise membership growth, educational achievement and sustained club excellence, and we’re proud to continue that tradition as a 2026 Distinguished Club.

Visitors are always welcome. We meet on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month and offer a safe, supportive environment where you can build confidence, strengthen your leadership skills and become a more effective public speaker.

Come along and see what Toastmasters is all about!

Another wonderful evening at Launceston Toastmasters tonight! We always have such a great time.

Tonight our theme was Colour, and we began with a Round Robin asking us to share our favourite colours to wear. Our President then spoke about our upcoming speech contests, while also drawing our attention to some of the wonderful articles in this month’s Toastmaster magazine.

One of our longstanding members, who is currently working through Level Five of the Toastmasters education program, Pathways, then facilitated a panel discussion on health. Four of us were invited to be Panel Guest "Experts" and answer a series of questions exploring different aspects of health and wellbeing. It was such an informative and engaging project for everyone involved.

After our break, where plenty of chit-chat and lovely food and drink were shared, we held a mock Table Topics Contest. Ten contestants took on the same question:

“Is there a colour that instantly takes you back to a particular time and place? Tell us about it.”

And what amazing impromptu speeches we heard!

I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we leave our club meetings feeling lighter, brighter and more fulfilled. We’re learning and growing, but we’re also having so much fun.

Perhaps one of the loveliest things about Launceston Toastmaster's Club is that we don’t just learn to speak. We learn to see one another more fully. We listen to each other, we hear each other’s stories and, on a night like tonight, we see the beautiful colours each person brings into the room.

We meet at on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month and almost always have new people at each meeting. We are an inclusive, diverse and welcoming club, open to all.

Leadership has a way of challenging our assumptions.

Show up. We'd love to see you.

Launceston Toastmasters meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month. Whether you're taking your first steps in public speaking or looking to build your confidence, you'll find a welcoming, supportive place to learn, grow and have fun along the way.

Another enjoyable evening was shared at Launceston Toastmasters last week.

Our meeting theme was Local Stories, and what a wonderful journey it took us on. We explored stories of place and belonging, reflected on our connection to this ancient land, acknowledged the many migrants and refugees who have made Australia home, and celebrated the rich tapestry of cultures and experiences that shape our community today.

The evening featured a fantastic mix of prepared speeches and impromptu speaking, with plenty of thought-provoking moments, laughter and encouragement along the way.

At Launceston Toastmasters, we believe confidence grows through practice. We offer a warm, welcoming and supportive environment where you can challenge yourself, make mistakes, learn new skills and become a more confident communicator, whatever your starting point.

We meet on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month, and visitors are always welcome. If you've ever wanted to become more confident speaking in front of others, we'd love to meet you.

Public speaking is one of the greatest fears many people have, but like any skill, confidence comes through practice.

That is exactly what Toastmasters provides: a safe, supportive environment where you can challenge yourself, make mistakes, learn, grow and celebrate every success along the way. There is no expectation of perfection. Every experienced speaker in the room once stood where you are now.

At Launceston Toastmasters, we encourage one another to step outside our comfort zones, knowing that growth happens one speech at a time. Whether your first table topic lasts just 30 seconds or you're delivering a 10-minute presentation, every effort is applauded because every step forward matters.

Whether you are a small business owner wanting to network with confidence, a professional looking to become a stronger leader, a university student preparing for presentations, someone who needs to deliver a wedding speech or eulogy, or simply someone who is tired of letting fear hold you back, Toastmasters offers practical skills that will benefit you for life.

If you've ever thought, "I'd love to be more confident speaking in front of people," why not come along and see what we're about? You don't have to speak on your first visit. Just show up, meet our wonderfully friendly members and discover why so many people keep coming back!

Visitors are always welcome at Launceston Toastmasters. We'd love to meet you.

As we wrap up 2025 at Toastmasters Launceston, we want to offer a heartfelt thank you to our wonderful members, guests and executive team. You are the living pulse of this club and this year you showed up with courage, curiosity and good humour in spades.

And what a year it was! Alongside a growing membership, we proudly celebrated our 25th anniversary with a joyful gathering that honoured our beginnings. The ever-wonderful Marylou, who was present at the very first meeting, took us on a rich and entertaining journey through the many venues Launceston Toastmasters has called home over the past twenty five years. The stories were hilarious, nostalgic and a reminder that what we build together endures.

This year we also facilitated Moments of Truth, which gave us invaluable insight into how our members experience the club. It showed us where we are exceeding expectations and where we can sharpen our edge. It was honest, generous feedback and we are a stronger club because of it. One clear request was for more social activities and we are happy to say this will be part of our calendar in the year ahead.

In November, our members stepped bravely onto the contest stage at the Area Contests. Andrew and Yvonne both entered, with Yvonne taking out first place in Table Topics. A huge congratulations to Yvonne and equal applause for Andrew for the courage it takes to enter a first contest. Several other members supported the day as judges, timers and ballot counters, making it a truly collective effort and a thoroughly enjoyable one.

We closed the year with a Christmas themed meeting that captured everything we love about this club. Three of our newest members delivered impressive Icebreaker speeches. This was followed by a fabulous Christmas feast and a laughter-filled Table Topics session titled Christmas Disaster Hotline. Proof, if needed, that public speaking and laughter go hand in hand at our club.

Looking ahead to 2026, we are excited to introduce regular education sessions, club socials and debate nights, alongside our ongoing meetings that support members and guests to grow their confidence and deepen their love of public speaking. Launceston Toastmasters prides itself on being inclusive, diverse and genuinely welcoming. We are here to learn, grow and shine together as a club and as a community.

We warmly wish everyone a joyful festive season and we look forward to welcoming familiar faces and new ones alike in 2026.