The older brother said Melrose's admission of guilt, though late and reluctant, was a liberation. "I woke up the next morning in a hotel in Whangarei and I felt free for the first time in my life. I drove home feeling happy and vindicated."
His case proved it was worth reporting abuse, no matter how long ago it had occurred, and that complaints would be taken seriously.
"It's never too late to speak up. You will be listened to."
He had hoped for a longer sentence than the two years and eight months imposed, but was pleased Melrose had been jailed. Melrose's lawyer had asked for home detention given his age, ill health and otherwise positive contribution to society.
"He's where he belongs. I don't think the sentence is long enough but I accept it."
Lobby group the Sensible Sentencing Trust, however, has called Melrose's sentence totally disproportionate and out of touch.
Spokesman Scott Guthrie said, due to Melrose's serious and repetitive offending, he could easily have been sentenced to a minimum of seven years without parole under the Crimes Amendment Act 2005.
"Child abuse must be eliminated. Judges are the gate-keepers for society ... a pathetic sentence such as this is no deterrent whatsoever."
However, offenders must be sentenced under the laws in force at the time their crimes were committed. In Melrose's case, that was the late 1960s to early 70s.
Melrose was the principal of Kaikohe Christian School from 1997-2013.