The championships marked the seventh time in 15 years the school has made state level, having won the finals in 1998. 

Harrison Cleverdon, Jayda Hall, Annabelle Richens, Sarah Harding and Emily Dillon travelled to Stanwell Tops, Sydney in mid-November where they joined the state’s top nine teams for the championships.

The team of confident youngsters argued their way through a round robin format before they were knocked out during the semi-final. 

But Annabelle - also a member of the Riverina team - continued her journey at the 2014 Primary Schools State Debating Championships held at the Collaroy Centre from November 23-26. 

“They just missed out on the semi-finals on a three-to-two vote by the adjudicators,” Sue said.

“They only just missed out which is really amazing, considering Annabelle had a nasty accident and split her chin open, but carried on regardless and carried on in the next debate, which they won before going off to get stitches.”

Sue made special mention of the team’s coach Deborah Green who mentored the students, two of which were debating for the first time. 

“Mrs Green is fabulous, she puts lots of time and effort into us and she’s been very patient... as she needs to be,” Annabelle said.

The students have since returned to the school which is proud as punch of their achievements.

“We are just absolutely blown away, it’s wonderful to even reach the finals of the Riverina, but to get to the state finals and to do so well against the other nine teams from various regions of the state is exceptional,” Sue said.

“Young Public School is very proud of our fantastic debaters.

“We have some chatterboxes here.”