Don’s inspirational journey
Toastmasters has over 270,000 members in more than 14,000 clubs across 148 countries worldwide. The non-profit educational organisation was founded in 1924, and for 100 years it has been building confidence and teaching public speaking skills.
Don Turton, 61, who lives in Narraweena, joined Harbord Diggers Daytime Toastmasters (HDT) in 2005 with the aim of becoming a motivational and inspirational speaker.
The club’s mission is to provide a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills, resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth.
Don, who has Cerebral Palsy, is wheelchair-bound and has speech difficulties, has inspired a multitude of people over the last 19 years with the club.
“The most wonderful skill that I have learned from being in Toastmasters has been to speak up for myself,” says Don. “Plus the increased confidence that I have gained.
“Toastmasters has helped me maintain my confidence when job opportunities were not panning out for me,” says Don, who is a passionate archer.
The HDT is the only daytime Toastmasters club on the Beaches and has about 12 to 15 members, but Don says the club would love more people to join.
“We would like to get back to our previous membership of 25 to 30 members,” says Don.
It’s a wonderful way to meet new people and make new friends. Don says he has made many friends through Toastmasters, ‘too numerous to mention,’ he says.
Don completed an eight-week Speechcraft course before joining the club. Speechcraft is a program developed by Toastmasters International, guided by experienced advisors, that fast-tracks public speaking skills.
On joining the friendly and supportive club, members are assigned a mentor to guide them. Over time people improve and become more confident.
HDT meets from 10am to 12pm on the first and third Thursday morning of each month. Members give prepared speeches and are evaluated on those speeches, while other club members run the meeting, fulfilling different roles such as giving a toast or being the ‘grammarian’ (grammar helper) for the meeting.
For more information visit fresh.toastmastersclubs.org