I’VE been looking forward to tomorrow since I was 12 — three years ago. It’s a big day for me. Some people have used the word “historic” but I don’t know about that. I’m only 15.

Tomorrow is the day the new $5 bank note enters circulation. I played a big part in its design. I heard that everyone thought it was ugly, but I couldn’t see that. Literally.

Today’s $5 note is Australia’s first bank note that blind people can read, which I campaigned for.

I’m typing this using special software because I’m completely blind. Technology has helped me to do stuff other 15-year-old kids can do.

The $5 that comes out tomorrow isn’t ugly to me. It’s the first Australian bank note that Australia’s 360,000 blind people, like me, can read.

media_camera Blind from birth, 15-year-old Connor McLeod successfully lobbied the Reserve Bank to have tactile features on all new bank notes.

The part I played in its design you probably can’t see, but I can feel. It has tactile markings on it. I’m so excited to run my fingers over those bumps on the note and mentally count, in my mind, to five as I do it.

Before today, I could only tell the difference between coins. That’s fine for the tuck shop, but what about when I get older? Mum won’t be around forever to help me. I realised I’d need to learn how to use notes, because — hopefully — when I’m older, I’ll have more money than just coins to deal with!

I was already thinking about this when I was given some money for a Christmas present inside a card, but had no idea how much it was and how generous or tight-arse the present-giver had been! It was frustrating and slightly embarrassing.

If I come across something that doesn’t sound right, I like to do something about it rather than just complain. So me and mum logged on to Change.org and started a petition asking for the next print of bank notes to include tactile markings.

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At first, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) refused to include tactile markings for the notes that come out today. I found out that Australia actually prints banknotes with tactile markings on them for other countries and sends them there, but they wouldn’t do it here. Can you believe that?!

Me and mum had to find a way to prove that there was a need for bank notes for blind people here. When 57,000 people signed my Change.org petition, we kind of proved that need. We could then ask those signers to contact the RBA and put the pressure on. Still, they refused.

Then me and mum went to Canberra and met a politician who worked in the treasury. We delivered our petition to him. After that, things started to change and sound more positive.

Tomorrow, me and mum will be celebrating but we also want to thank those 57,000 people who’ve really helped Australia’s blind community.

Now when I grow up, I won’t have to rely on trusting that people have always given me the right change. I can feel the markings on the bank notes and tell them if they’ve given me the wrong change and also think to myself: I did that.

Above all, it means I can be independent. I can’t wait for that. That feels good.

Originally published as ‘Why I love the new $5 note’