Debating is not what it used to be, says Chris Lee, president of the Sunrise Lions.

On September 2, Lee hosted the 27th annual debating competition for the Brian Hammond Memorial Shield.

“We didn’t really do debating at all in schools, but now it is big stuff,” Lee said. “There’s a website for New Zealand schools’ debate and a whole heap of information on the national championships they have and the world championships.”

The competition was fierce between Tauranga Boys’ College and Tauranga Girls’ College, with the lads taking home the honours.

“The honours have always been shared,” Lee said. “But the boys succeeded in retaining the trophy.”

The moot or the subject of the debate was: “This House does not support any restrictions on free speech apart from speech inciting violence.”

Ollie Farquharson received the Brian Hammond Shield on behalf of the boys, and Gayathri Dinesh won best speaker.

Alongside the debate, the Sunrise Lions hosted their Our Magic Show and raised $4000 for three charities, the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Diabetes NZ and Stroke Foundation NZ.

“Our name is on the charity,” Lee said. “It is produced by a person in Auckland who brings an international magician to New Zealand.”

The Lions hosted the magic show at the Bethlehem Community Hall, and tickets were free to community members.

“The show is focused on a group of kids who would probably not get to see a live show otherwise,” Lee said.

In the past, $3000 was awarded to three different charities, and an additional $1000 was added this year from their firewood sales, according to Lee.

“We have focused on various organisations that could be called ambulances at the bottom of the cliff.”

Every Tuesday morning, aside from a break over Christmas, the Sunrise Lions and down Marshall Rd, past the gold cause, sawing and gathering firewood.

The Sun Rise Lions will identify a single recipient moving into the future instead of splitting the donations between multiple charities.

“We have chosen to go with the Youth Search and Rescue that originated in Tauranga,” Lee said.

Youth Search and Rescue was established in 2005. It helps to train and prepare young adults in search and rescue and emergency management practices.

The group expanded its operation beyond Tauranga and established branches in Auckland, central Waikato, Thames Coromandel and Christchurch.

- SunLive