LAWSON Rankin may not have been able to join his St Francis Xavier's College classmates at their Higher School Certificate results barbecue, but he was never far from their thoughts.
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Lawson's father Phillip Rankin attended Tuesday's gathering on his son's behalf, as many of the school's 480 outgoing students came together to share their subject results and wait for the 1pm release of their Australian Tertiary Admission Rank.
"It's probably embarrassing for Lawson, but there are certain obligations that are not difficult," Mr Rankin said.
"To be here with the young folk, that's who he is and that's who he loved and spent quite a number of years with, sometimes all the way - there were some boys here right from primary school - and we've all got something to look forward to."
Mr Rankin said he was "pleased" to share in the occasion and thank the students who helped save his son's life after he was injured in Bali.
"Lawson couldn't be here today so it was important to come back and make it all real for them, answer a few questions and try and get a good understanding of where Lawson is at," he said.
"Right now Lawson is in a coma in a critical condition in ICU, he remains stable and our favourite statement at the moment is 'the absence of bad news'.
"Time is out of the picture at the moment, it's really a matter of just what is needed for Lawson moment by moment and to share that time with him.
"I'd like to thank the whole community, all his school friends and sporting friends.
"He's really touched a lot of people's hearts and there's some wonderful stories evolving about who he was and who he is, what he did for people and what they love about him.
"We've been kept on the surface and really inspired by so many loving moments and pictures and little movies shot and funny things that we never knew he did.
"It really gives us heaps of strength each day to shoot for 100 percent with our baby boy."
Lawson, 18, fell from a scooter on the Indonesian island on November 30.
His friends found him face-down in a concrete drain, unconscious and drowning.
They lifted him out and started CPR, while locals called an ambulance.
Lawson has suffered a brain haemorrhage and infection from the water.
Despite having travel insurance, he didn't hold an international license to ride a motorbike, meaning his extensive medical costs are not covered.
A Go Fund Me page raised $225,864 for Lawson to be medically evacuated.
He landed on December 8 and is being treated at The Prince of Wales Hospital, where Mr Rankin said medical staff had been "exceptionally professional".
He said his family wasn't focusing on tragedy, fault or blame, although it would be easy to do.
"I encourage young people here today as young adults to accept what's happened and find goodness in it, not have an excuse to walk towards the shadows or the negativity in life," he said.
"We've had so many blessings from literally thousands and thousands of people."
Mr Rankin also told students life could be hard and at times they may fall.
"It's a matter of what you're looking at when you hit the ground," he said.
"If you're looking at the failure and concentrating on that, then that's the end goal you'll get.
"If you're concentrating on your passion and what you love in life and what you're focused on... if you're looking back up you'll get back up."
Helen Gregory
Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting.
Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting.
