Ten-year-old NSW student with cerebral palsy elected school captain

A NSW mother and teacher has described the moment her school greeted the news her 10-year-old son with cerebral palsy was elected school captain with a “roar”.

Muswellbrook mother-of-three Mary Ballard, who also happens to teach at son Jake's school, was present when the result of the St James Primary School ballot came through in mid-December.

“When (Jake) got announced, there was roar in the school hall, a clapping and cheering,” she told 9news.com.au.

A week earlier, Jake, who is non-verbal, delivered his speech to the school via an eye-operated technology communication device, competing against 14 other candidates.

Ms Ballard said she later advised her son, who is in Grade 7 this year, to prepare for the possibility he might not be elected.

“There were 14 other great speeches that day, so any one or two of those children were in the running for (the captain and vice-captain roles). So we did play it down a bit,” she said.

The same week Jake was awarded the school’s Resilience Award in recognition of the strength he has shown throughout his life, after losing his father to brain cancer two years prior.

Despite his circumstances, Jake has undertaken charity work in the community, fundraising through Mini Vinnies in order to help sponsor children in Cambodia.

Kim Haylen, the parent of another student at St James Primary School, said he was renowned for his “clever, smart and caring” nature and believes he is a “fantastic” candidate for the role.

Jake will work alongside fellow school captain, Georgia Dulley.