Tiny Titans: Victorian kids’ heroic actions celebrated at awards ceremony

Twenty-one little lifesavers, some as young as four, were honoured for their calm and quick thinking during emergencies and making triple-0 calls that ensured their loved ones’ safety.

When little Miles Taylor saw his mum collapsed and drifting in and out of consciousness on the floor of their Bendigo home, he knew exactly what to do.

Despite being aged only seven at the time, he didn’t panic and calmy called triple-0 before carefully following instructions while the ambulance was en route.

And it helped save his mum Stephanie Lucanto’s life.

The Golden Square boy’s bravery was recognised at a special triple-0 ceremony at the Melbourne Museum on Wednesday alongside 20 other little heroes – one as young as four.

Miles, at the guidance of his call-taker, measured his mum’s breathing, rolled her onto her side and unlocked the front doors for the paramedics.

“Before mum fainted, we did lots and lots of practice,” he said.

“So when she fainted I knew to call triple-0.”

A proud Ms Lucanto said that because she had been feeling unwell in the lead up to the emergency, she had taught Miles what to do if her health deteriorated.

Junior Triple Zero Hero Miles Taylor, 7, with his medal. Picture: David Caird

“While I had been sick I thought we had better teach Miles what to do if something happens,” she said.

“I have an ongoing medical condition, but from that day we have actually found out what that is, so we got me diagnosed and got me better.”

The youngest of the recipients was Ace Cope, who was only four at the time his mum had a severe asthma attack at their home in Somerville.

Ace had been learning about triple-0 calls at kindergarten and his mum, who'd had previous asthma episodes, was reinforcing the message at home.

When Ace called, he told the call-taker Cait Niessner-Zmegac that his “mum’s asthma is sore and her chest is hurting” before calmly answering questions and unlocking the door for paramedics.

“He was so calm through the whole call,” Ms Niessner-Zmegac said.
“He just gave me straight forward yes or no answers, unlocked the door and watched his mum and stayed with her the whole time.”

Junior Triple Zero Heroes Jorja Gardiner, 8, Ace Cope, 6, and Miles Taylor, 7, with their medals. Picture: David Caird

Eight-year old Pakenham girl Jorja Gardiner had to make a triple-0 call when she found her mum laying in the shower in extreme pain.

Home alone with her four-year-old brother Jorja took it all in her stride.

“I called triple-0 because my mum had a gallbladder attack,” she said.

“She was screaming on the bathroom floor, and I couldn’t help her and she had no more of her medicine.

“I couldn’t help her, because I didn’t know what a nurse would do. So, I called my dad first and he made me call triple-0 and that’s why I am here.”

The young heroes were handed their awards from Minister for Emergency Services Jaclyn Symes who praised the bravery of the 21 youngsters.

“The courage these young people have shown in emergencies is outstanding,” she said.

“Their ability to remain calm and even give vital lifesaving support is amazing and deserves to be recognised.”