Kongwak student’s incredible bravery

TWENTY-FOUR young Victorians, including a Kongwak primary school student, were honoured for their exceptional courage and maturity as Junior Triple Zero Heroes by the Emergency Services

Telecommunications Authority (ESTA), for calling Triple Zero (000) in an emergency.

The Junior Triple Zero Hero awards, in its nineteenth year, recognise young heroes who are nominated by ESTA’s Call-Takers for their clear thinking and composure in emergencies when speaking with Triple Zero (000) Call-Takers. 

This year’s Junior Triple Zero Heroes included nine-year-old Lily-Ann Balfour from Kongwak Primary School. 

Lily-Ann was nine at the time of the call and explained “I’m 10 tomorrow” to the Triple zero call-taker, Daniel Williams when her mum handed her the phone. Their car with a horse float attached, was parked on the side of a busy highway when it was hit by a truck. 

Mum Terri-Ann wanted to talk to a driver who’d just pulled up to offer assistance so handed the phone to Lily-Ann. 

She calmly informed the call-taker “everyone’s working together” and was able to provide accurate information.

Terri-Ann confirmed the family were returning home from a show jumping lesson in Nyora with their 33-year-old pony, before Terri-Ann pulled over to tend to the baby in the back seat. 

“I didn’t even get out of the car, when before I knew it, the horse float had been hit.” 

“Lily-Ann remained so calm on the phone to 000, saying ‘I don’t know if my pony is okay’,” said Terri-Ann. 

Fortunately, no one was badly injured in the accident, including Lily-Ann’s pony. 

The Minister for Emergency Services and Attorney-General, Jaclyn Symes presented Lily-Ann with her medal at the special awards event at the MCG. 

ESTA’s CEO, Deb Abbott praised the junior heroes for their quick thinking by taking charge and calling Triple Zero (000) to help their family members.