This is where the ludicrous notion of 'parent power' falls to the ground.
Various governments have pedaled parents as 'consumers of education' which of course is utterly meaningless, but it sounds good, so they use it.
I think it was Labor who trumpeted about 'parent power' and 'being able to choose your child's school'.
Once again the use of the word 'power' sounds great - but it is of course meaningless.
As for the idea of parents 'choosing a school', that requires two situations, both of which are again nonsense.
The first is that the average parent has the information and knowledge to make a genuinely informed choice, when in fact the average parent chooses a school that they hear good things about, that their child's friends are going to go to, and that is not a million miles away from home.
The second notion is that such a choice assures admission, and as tigger has found out, good schools are instantly over-subscribed, and people who don;t get in face the second choice of the school they dislike the least - not much 'choice' or 'power' involved there!
The appeals process is a sop to make you think you can alter decisions, which, except in really special circumstances, you can't because again, you lack the knowledge, and certainly the 'power' to offer an informed argument.
I hope your child is happy at whichever school they attend, and the harsh lesson of the reality of 'parental choice' and 'parent power' have not left you too disillusioned with the reality of life, as against political promises designed to get your vote by promising you something you can never ever have.