‘On the occasion of an ecumenical service for the victims of the canyoning tragedy’ also known as ‘It Is Still Winter at Home’ Sir
William Deane- 1999
1) What was/were the context/ circumstances surrounding this speech?
Sir William Deane, as GG of Australia, was representing Australia at the ecumenical service in Switzerland (Interlaken) for the twenty-one victims of the canyoning accident, fourteen of whom were Australian. The tragedy gained a media profile due to controversial circumstances surrounding the deaths- yet the speech only given
10-15 second bits on national Australian news. Person/ character/ profile of Deane (ethos) brought dignity/ formality to occasion.
2) What was the agenda or motivation or purpose behind the construction and delivery of this speech?
The purpose of the speech was to mourn, to pay homage to victims, to comfort and support families, to unite countries through tragedy and grief.
3) What events or attitudes need to be considered in order to understand this speech?
The experience of loss and mourning; the loss of loved ones away from homeland; the controversy of the tragedy; the reception/ media profile of the event in
Australia.
4) What value or meaning did the speech have in its original context?
Comfort, representational, patriotic, unifying, diplomatic.
5) Who was the original audience for the speech?
Family, officials, friends.
6) What ideas/ ideals/ concepts/ issues/values are expressed/explored in the text?
Commemoration, unity, remembrance, loss, identity, patriotism, nationality, faith, sorrow, collective loss, loss of youth- their potential, impact of loss on others, tragedy is worsened by the fact that the people died overseas, away from their homeland.
7) How are these ideas/ ideals/ concepts/ issues expressed?
Through the structure and the rhetorical strategies employed- see table below.
8) How does considering the speech in different contexts enhance your understanding of the speech?
Distance from the event creates an objectivity that allows one to assess its worth/ endurance as a ‘great’ speech as opposed to an ‘effective’ or ‘once-only’ speech for a particular audience. Different responders will value the speech for different reasons-> Consideration of this speech- successful within its own set of circumstances and considered ‘great’ by some- allows us to ascertain what could be considered effective/ great and truly memorable speeches that are linked to great, all-encompassing historical moments that have a wide ranging impact on many people. This speech allows us to effectively compare different speeches to evaluate the criteria for textual integrity- highlights the significance of context, purpose, audience and different people’s values and attitudes. Role of media/ literature in creating a ‘canon’ awarding texts cultural currency- some speeches are given status and deemed ‘worthy’ for particular events or people they are linked to.
9) What events or changes in attitude have taken place since this speech was first delivered?

‘On the occasion of an ecumenical service for the victims of the canyoning tragedy’ also known as ‘It Is Still Winter at Home’ Sir
William Deane- 1999
Similar events- Other global or national catastrophes.
10) What value or meaning does the speech have in our contemporary context?
Marks the historical event; point of remembrance for families of loved ones lost. A once only text for the remainder of us. Model of speech for this particular type of event.
11) What different interpretations of the speech could be made?
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A solemn, dignified eulogy
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Nationalistic speech

Diplomatically effective speech

A peaceful, calm offering in time of loss
12) What makes a speech endure? Does this speech have any or some of those resonant qualities?

Mark an historical event

Subject matter->wide ranging implications for society

Model of effective rhetoric

Achieve its purpose

Tied to a major event

Techniques

Humour

Entertaining

Simple message

Important message

Values that hold worth in our society- inspires us to be better people

Motivates, persuades, leads to change, transforms society

Change may not be immediate or explicit-> may be realised later-> do we look for tangible signs of change? Depends on the purpose/ context of the speech.

‘On the occasion of an ecumenical service for the victims of the canyoning tragedy’ also known as ‘It Is Still Winter at Home’ Sir
William Deane- 1999

‘On the occasion of an ecumenical service for the victims of the canyoning tragedy’ also known as ‘It Is Still Winter at Home’ Sir
William Deane- 1999
CONTEXT
PURPOSE
AUDIENCE
IDEAS, IDEALS
VALUES
STRUCTURE
RHETORICAL
FEATURES/STRATEGIES
Textual Integrity/
Endurance?
Deane as GG of Australia- representing Australia at the ecumenical service in Switzerland (Interlaken) for the twenty-one victims of the canyoning accident, fourteen of whom were Australian. Tragedy given media profile due to controversial circumstances surrounding the deaths- yet the speech only given 10-15 second bits on national Australian news. Person of Deane (ethos) brought dignity/ formality to occasion.
To mourn, to pay homage to victims, to comfort and support families, to unite countries on grief.
Mainly the attended gathering- family, friends, officials. A new audience- us.
Tragedy is worsened by the fact that the people died overseas, away from their homeland
Commemoration, unity, remembrance, loss, identity, patriotism, nationality, faith, sorrow, collective loss
Clearly defined phases- a formal, prepared speech from a seasoned orator-> a tight structure.
Opening phase-> establish purpose/ audience and Australian national significance
Middle phase-> theme of unity developed- diplomacy-between people and countries-what can be gained through loss and tragedy
Closing phase-> philosophical and religious

Formal register-> formal language and rhetorical techniques- appropriate/ fitting for the occasion- ethos of Deane established- seasoned speaker/ credibility- unpretentious

Tone- dignified, solemn-> again appropriate for Deane’s role and the event

Biblical references/ religious allusions- Matthew’s gospel-> appropriate for context as it establishes formal, dignified, reverent tone.

Verbs- to mourn, to comfort, to pray-> explicit message- clear/ simple

Emotive words- sadness, mourn, profound tragedy, grieve, compassion, shock and sorrow, tragic

Inclusive language- mankind, we are all, all of us
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Repetition of key words- we pray, the young people, certainly the young Australians, Australians
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Sound qualities- alliteration- families and friends, competence and compassion-> creates rhythm, draws attention to key ideals
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Literary allusion- Donne, Brooke-> collective loss to humankind- gravity of loss, nationhood- add sophistication- move from particular to broad/ universal
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Symbolism- wattle-> patriotism, natural symbol, home
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Imagery- It is still winter at home. But the golden wattles are coming into bloom-> from death comes new hope- new life- the cycle of life and death- inevitable
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Lexical choices- evokes emotion in describing the young people-> ‘shared the spirit of adventure, the joy of living, the exuberance and the delight of youth.’
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Metaphor- the ‘flower of their youth’- coupled with the symbolism and imagery, further enhances the aesthetics of the speech
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Contrast – loss and sorrow for the dead with a joy and vitality of their youth and sense of adventure
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Cumulation- the competence, the compassion and the kindness; the spirit of adventure, the joy of living, the exuberance and the delight of youth-> develops sincerity and depth of feeling
Is it limited to original purpose, context- only valued by those who were impacted by the tragedy? Is it valued by others as a model speech for such an occasion-> dignified, representative role for Deane as GG in times of tragedy- his character and experience adding to the overall impact of the speech.
A ‘once only’ text for the broader public, a memorable text for those impacted by tragedy, admirable rhetoric for the context/purpose/audience.

‘On the occasion of an ecumenical service for the victims of the canyoning tragedy’ also known as ‘It Is Still Winter at Home’ Sir
William Deane- 1999