Brave girl calls

By Tania Martin
SCARED for her mother’s life, Sophie Monichino showed great courage in calling for help.
She was last week recognised for her bravery in helping her mum when she needed her the most.
Sophie was one of 20 children between the age of three and 14 who received Triple Zero Hero awards to highlight the importance of phoning for help in an emergency.
The six-year-old Mt Evelyn youngster knew exactly what to do when her mother fell off a ladder last August.
Her mother, Tanya, fell off a ladder while trying to rescue a bird that was in distress.
She reached for the bird but lost her footing and fell hitting her head and hip on the way down.
Ms Monichino then lost consciousness for a couple of minutes.
When she regained consciousness it was to find Sophie had come to the rescue.
“She was great, she was really brave,” Ms Monichino said.
“She ran inside got the phone and rang triple zero. She even ran around got the keys and unlocked the gate.”
After ringing for help, Sophie stayed by her mother’s side until the ambulance arrived.
Ms Monichino said it was only lucky that Sophie was outside with her when she fell.
“I’d hate to think what would have happened if Sophie wasn’t there,” she said.
Ms Monichino sustained a mild concussion and broken wrist.
Sophie stayed with her mum when the ambulance arrived to make sure she was safe.
“She sat in the ambulance and rubbed my hand,” Ms Monichino.
Although Sophie didn’t cry during the incident, it was later that she felt the effects of what had happened.
She later told her grandmother that she cried in her head.
“I wanted to be brave for mummy,” Sophie said.
Sophie last week said although it was scary watching her mum fall, she knew exactly what to do.
Ms Monichino said that it was fantastic that the children had been honoured for their quick thinking in the face of an emergency.
She said her experience had reinforced the importance of teaching young children about calling triple zero.
Sophie was taught how to use the service at pre-school and knew exactly what to do when it came time to help her mum.
Emergency Services Minister Bob Cameron said the awards helped to raise awareness of the importance of teaching young children what to do in an emergency. “I encourage all parents to teach their children about triple zero and make sure the home address is displayed near the phone,’ he said.
The Triple Hero Zero recipients were presented with a show bag which included a teddy bear, fridge magnet, baseball cap and a drink bottle as well as a certificate.