Connor’s mates’ petition encourages NESA boss to review HSC graduation case

A petition launched by Connor Meldrum’s mates could have a big impact on his ability to graduate in 2021, with authorities now “looking into the matter”.

CONNOR'S HSC PLEA: The ceo of NESA has made contact with Connor Meldrum’s family after the friends of Trinity College Year 12 student who suffered life threatening head injuries after a cliff fall, started a petition to request the NSW Education Standards Authority allow him to complete his HSC with his friends in 2021.

After his friends created an online petition, the family of Year 12 Trinity College student Connor Meldrum are hopeful he may be able to completing his HSC in 2021 with his mates.

The petition was launched in an effort to persuade the NSW Education Standards Authority.to allow Connor to complete his studies with his good friends after the teenager suffered severe head injuries from a cliff fall in 2019.

And now it seems an exception may be made.

On Tuesday morning Connor’s mum Kim Goodrick said she was thrilled to have received two phone calls from NESA chief executive Paul Martin in relation to how this matter can be resolved.

“The chief executive Paul Martin has been in contact with me and is looking into the matter,” she said.

“Initially he contacted me on Sunday morning and again last night (Monday May 31) to reiterate they are looking what special considerations or reasonable adjustments NESA can make so Connor can finish his HSC this year.”

Ms Goodrick said she was delighted that Mr Martin reached out.

“Before, we were getting a blanket no which was very frustrating,” she said.

“The line we kept getting from NESA is that by allowing him to complete his HSC it was unfair on the other students.

“So we decided to ask the other students what they thought and was it unfair to allow him to graduate after two to three complex brain surgeries.

“Connor’s friends said it was ‘totally unfair to ask him to do the same as us when we are perfectly well’.”

Now Ms Goodrick said her family was daring to hope for positive outcome, which would “mean everything for Connor”.

Ms Goodrick said the academic and administrative staff at Connor’s school had been wonderful through the whole process.

“The staff at Trinity have been incredibly supportive,” she said.

“Of course they limited by the requirements of NESA.

“But they have done their utmost, the teachers, staff and admin, everyone, have been incredibly good and sympathetic.”

So far nearly 6000 people have signed the petition.