SEVEN students from across the region are poring over their dictionaries this week as they prepare for the Premier’s Spelling Bee state final in Sydney.
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They are Sam Russell (junior division) and Peter Gooley (senior) from Armidale City Public School; Jack Turner (junior) and Anastasia Smyth (senior) from Tamworth Public School; John Robinson (junior) and Millie Fisher (senior) from Bourke-Walgett School of Distance Education; and James Whalan (senior) from Coonabarabran Public School.
Both Millie and Anastasia were state finalists in last year’s spelling bee, and Armidale City Public, Tamworth Public and Bourke-Walgett School of Distance Education are among only six schools across the state to have finalists in both the junior and senior divisions.
When the competition final is held in Sydney next Wednesday, it will end a long journey that began with 34,000 students from 939 public schools across NSW back in July.
More than 3500 students progressed through to 42 regional finals, and now just 86 students remain in contention for the prestigious title.
The Premier’s Spelling Bee was launched in 2004 with 800 students taking part, but it has now grown to be the biggest competition of its type in Australia.
Word lists for the final are provided by the editors of Macquarie Dictionary and cover seven categories, including arts and entertainment, the environment and the ancient world.
