Twenty-seven young Victorians have been honoured for showing bravery far beyond their years at the 15th Annual Junior Triple Zero Hero Awards.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Lisa Neville attended today’s awards and congratulated the youngsters for remaining calm and calling Triple Zero in emergency situations.
This year the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA) has already received more than 933,000 triple zero calls for assistance across Victoria.
Among this year’s award winners was little hero, Kate. At just nine, young Kate called triple zero when her mum was having a diabetic hypoglycaemia (hypo). She was able to remain calm and answer the call-taker’s questions to get her mum the right help.
Eleven-year-old Dion, from Officer, called triple zero when his younger sister was scalded by hot water, providing critical information to the call-taker and caring for his sister until the ambulance arrived
When their dad collapsed and started having seizures, five-year-old Monte and seven-year-old Casper called triple zero straight away.
The brothers were able to relay critical health information to the call-taker and worked together to turn their dad on his side when the seizures stopped.
The Junior Triple Zero Heroes were nominated by ESTA’s Triple Zero operators who work 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
ESTA is Victoria’s emergency communications agency and receives emergency calls for the CFA, MFB, Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria and Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES).
Quotes attributable to Minister for Police and Emergency Services Lisa Neville
“The bravery and courage these young Victorians show during emergencies, often involving their loved ones, is truly inspirational and I congratulate them on their outstanding efforts.”
“More than 2.5 million emergency calls are made to ESTA through the Triple Zero service every year, but the actions of these brave young Victorians in situations that would unsettle most adults deserves our recognition and praise.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020