Trinity Catholic College principal Brother John supports Connor’s bid to finish HSC in 2021

The principal of Trinity Catholic College has spoken out about the push to allow cliff fall victim Connor Meldrum to graduate with his mates this year.

Trinity Catholic College Lismore, Principal, Brother John Hilet. said the educational community at the school is doing all they can to support Year 12 student Connor Meldrum achieve his HSC goals.

The campaign by Connor Meldrum’s family and friends to allow the teenager to graduate his HSC with his school friends this year is gaining momentum.

And now his school principal has spoken up about the situation.

On Thursday, Trinity Catholic College principal Brother John Hilet said the entire educational community was there to support the 17-year-old, who suffered severe head injuries after a cliff fall in 2019.

“Trinity College, as a community, we are doing everything humanly possible to assist Connor get the best results of which he is capable,” he said.

“But we cannot change the criteria under which the HSC takes place.

“It might be semantics but the term graduation implies the person has satisfactorily completed HSC.”

After the online petition was launched in an effort to persuade the NSW Education Standards Authority to allow Connor to complete his studies with his good friends, his mum Kim Goodrick received two phone calls from NESA chief executive Paul Martin.

“Mr Martin said he was looking into Connor’s situation when we spoke earlier this week,” she said.

“But since then, I have not heard anything.”

Connor Meldrum (middle) with father David Meldrum and mother Kim Goodrick at Cosy Corner Tallows Beach Byron Bay. Connor fell from the cliff face at Cape Byron in 2019, shattering his skull which left him with severe brain injuries. Since then Connor now 17, has gone through several significant operations, and showing remarkable courage, is now in Year 12 at Trinity College. Photo by Natalie Grono

However, Ms Goodrick said she was thrilled to learn that Lismore MP Janelle Saffin MP was also advocating on behalf of her son.

“I understand that Janelle Saffin is following through and is going to speak with the NSW Education Minister,” Ms Goodrick said.

“It is wonderful that she is supporting Connor’s efforts to graduate and is willing to challenge NESA.”

In her letter to NES, Ms Saffin said she asks that “due consideration be given to Connor to complete his HSC studies with his class mates”.

“The HSC of course requires certain criteria to be met and there is a stock standard way of applying that,” she wrote.

“I am not asking for special consideration to be given, I am asking for due consideration to be given to Connor’s situation.

“Due and equal weight must be given to Connor’s circumstances in the hope that this consideration can make a finding that his experience and engagement equals or is equal to the stock standard criteria.

“I am sure the will and the way can be found to achieve this.”

Meanwhile, the petition by his school friends has been signed by more than 6000 people.

Ms Goodrick said her son’s mental health was very much tied with being able to graduate in 2021.

“At this stage Connor is interested in studying environmental studies,” she said.

“But it comes down to his HSC situation and his next set of surgeries.”