Dating back to 1941, the annual Kitchen and Tyrell Debates will be held on Friday 23 May.

To mark the first ever debate the school diary noted “Public debate—against the Boys’ Grammar School. Girls won. Dancing afterwards.” The subject was 'Women should have equal rights with men' and CGGS took the Government side of the floor. Come 1944, the debate had evolved into a regular event, boasting a trophy donated by Mr A J Kitchen—and thus the Richard Kitchen debate was born.

Today it remains a highlight of the debating calendar. Year 12 teams from both schools vie for the reputation of dazzling wit, concise argument, and ownership of the trophy, which is, in fact, the top part of a piece of naval shell casing. For a number of years, it was used as a bell to awake the Boarders, until the team was begged by their Boarding House peers to lose their debate so they could be rid of the bell!

In 1982 Canberra Grammar School inaugurated another debate in honour of Dr John Tyrell, a highly influential teacher in Boy’s debating during his time at CGS (1952–81). As with the Kitchen trophy, the girls immediately took possession of this Tyrell trophy.

The tradition continues in 2025, as the two schools meet to decide the fate of these two icons of debating.

Join us for a dynamic evening of opposing viewpoints and compelling ideas—who will take home the trophy this year?