SFX students awarded Commissioner’s highest honour

Elijah Arranz narrowly survived a horrific skydiving accident at 14 sending shockwaves through the St Francis Xavier school community. His courage and passionate determination in recovery and the faith, commitment and selflessness of his mates took centre stage at the Children’s Week Awards when Commissioner Jodie Griffiths-Cook presented Elijah and year ten friends Ben Mitchell, Charlie Mellick, Marley Thomas and Joe Bishop with the 2017 Commissioner’s Award.

The love and faith-filled community of SFX College gave Elijah a rock star reception when he returned to school after nearly 12 months in hospital undergoing intensive rehabilitation, relearning to speak, eat, and to use his hands. Not knowing whether he was going to survive, his anxious friends refused to sit idle. They hosted record breaking fundraisers, made photo boards for his hospital room, and hosted 24-hour basketball meets, arranging 400 pairs of shoes in the words “Pray for Eli”.

On his return to school, his mates now known as Team Elijah made sure that Elijah could transition with peace of mind both for him and his family. While there are many other year 10 students at SFX who assist when needed, these four caring teens provide a constant source of friendship and support for Elijah, encouraging his independence and doing everything they can to normalise his school experience, making sure he doesn’t miss out on the things that will shape his memories of his school years.

In an interview with the Canberra Times Team Elijah recalled “Charlie pushing Elijah through a relay at the College athletics carnival so quickly onlookers weren’t sure they’d be able to stop”.

“It’s just what you do for a mate,” Charlie said humbly on ABC radio about receiving the Award. Elijah said he was grateful to his friends for “supporting me with the laughs… and staying with me, not ditching me”. But his friends wouldn’t have it any other way.

Elijah pushes the limits every day on his incredible journey of recovery and in pursuit of his dream to run the Boston Marathon. Team Elijah won’t be far from his side.

The Commissioner said “the St Francis Xavier young people set an example for us all - the values of faith, bravery, compassion, and selflessness shine through their actions and show us the true meaning of friendship”.

“It was impossible to go past a particular group of young people who together epitomise the values of tenacity, courage and true friendship even in the face of personal challenges,” she said.

Catholic Education looks forward seeing Elijah carry the Commonwealth Games baton through Canberra next year.