Oakleigh Grammar students act of kindness praised as ‘remarkable’, after stopping to help elderly woman in need

Two Oakleigh VCE students have been heralded as local heroes after their quick-thinking and kindness saved the life of an elderly woman in distress.

Ella and Anthony came to the aid of an elderly woman who fell outside Oakleigh station. Pictured with school principal Mark Robertson. Picture: Gemma Scerri.

Two Oakleigh VCE students turned good Samaritans have been commended for helping an elderly woman in distress.

Year 12 students Ella, 17, and Anthony, 18, saw an elderly woman fall and hit her head after fainting outside the Oakleigh railway station on July 16.

The Oakleigh Grammar students had been on their way to the shops when they saw the incident unfolding and rushed to the woman’s aid.

While Anthony helped the woman up, Ella immediately called 000.

The pair waited with the woman as she regained consciousness before ambulance officers were able to attend.

“It all happened so suddenly,” Ella told the Herald Sun.

“We saw her standing there and she just fell.

“We rushed over to help her. If it was me I would have wanted someone to help me too.”

Ella and Anthony are now being celebrated by their school community, hailed as “local heroes” for their quick thinking and compassionate care.

Principal Mark Robertson said Ella and Anthony’s response “prevented a tragedy”.

“The impact of their actions resonated beyond the immediate incident,” he said.

“We are very proud of them for acting so quickly and we believe they should be rewarded.”

Ella and Anthony were walking past Oakleigh station when they saw the woman fall before rushing to her aid. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Oakleigh Grammar parent Kanella Stevens saw the entire incident unfold.

“Ella and Anthony were really the standouts, but there were more than 10 kids helping,” Ms Stevens said.

“It was really remarkable to see all the students trying to help.”

Ms Stevens and another school parent stepped in to help Ella and Anthony, but she said the two students “stayed to the end”.

“These kids are just decent human beings, it was beautiful to see,” she said.

“There were other adults and students passing by and not stopping at all.”

Ms Stevens said Ella and Anthony’s actions “left a huge impression” on her.

“For me as a parent, it made me feel like I’d made the right choice in sending my kids to the school,” she said.

“They did such an amazing thing out in the community, it was remarkable to see good, decent kids that will turn into great adults.”

The children of the woman contacted the school to “express their profound gratitude” for Anthony and Ella’s

“Their appreciated underscores the significant differences (Ella and Anthony) made in a moment of crisis,” Mr Robertson said.