By Corey Everitt
Pakenham’s Jorja Gardiner is a brave inspiration to all, being named a Triple Zero Hero for swiftly calling paramedics after her mother faced a critical medical emergency.
On Wednesday 24 July, Triple Zero Victoria held its annual Junior Triple Zero Hero Awards. Jorja and her mother Brooke took a trip to the city where she was one of many children to be named a hero for their brave calls to emergency services.
It was in October last year when Jorja was only eight years old that she faced a critical situation when her mother collapsed from a gallbladder attack.
With no other adults around at home, only her four-year-old brother with her, Jorja took it upon herself to call Triple Zero (000) to help her mother.
Call-taker Eden Haddick picked up the call, though you could hear how frightened Jorja was, she responded clearly and quickly to Haddick where paramedics were shortly on the scene.
At the awards ceremony, Brooke listened to the recording of her daughter’s call.
“She was amazing, she quickly called triple zero, she was calm and waited with me for the ambulance,” she said.
“She spoke to me while we were waiting, she kept me updated as the paramedics were on the way, and asked me questions like how my breathing was.”
Brooke had suffered attacks before, this incident led to a prolonged hospitalisation as her condition became more critical.
Her doctors said on this occasion in October, her gallbladder likely ‘would have ruptured’ – a life-threatening situation.
Jorja was brave and astute in a situation that no one wants to find themselves in.
Her father, Simon, was formerly a firefighter who instilled the knowledge of what do to in an emergency from a very young age – helping the courage she showed that day.
Unfortunately, this was not the only emergency Jorja witnessed in the last year. She witnessed multiple ambulances responding to family members – a tough year for an adult, let alone a child.
Yet, Jorja kept smiling and would smile even more when her mother told her she would be receiving a very special award.
“I told her about it and she was so overwhelmed,” Brooke said.
“The fact that something positive came out of a year with her seeing a lot of emergencies is just really great.”
Receiving her award at the ceremony, she got to see all the other children brave like her. Even now, Brooke says she is excitedly showing her friends the medal and teaching them about the responsibilities of dialing Triple Zero (000).
“It’s a big deal, it’s really special to be recognised and to see and hear other kids who went through the same experience, I think it helps settle the anxiety for her around ambulances and paramedics,” Brooke said.
“We are just so proud of her, she is a rockstar.”
Triple Zero Victoria’s CEO Deb Abbott said junior heroes like Jorja are shining examples of courage.
“It’s important when you call Triple Zero (000) that you stay calm, listen and answer the questions from the Triple Zero Victoria Call-Taker. These young heroes did just that and have demonstrated incredible strength and courage beyond their years,” Ms Abbott said.
“Congratulations to all our young heroes who knew to call Triple Zero (000) immediately and provided the information our emergency Call-Takers need to help their loved ones and others in an emergency.”
