A MELTON teenager has been praised for staying calm and calling triple-0 after being threatened by a man with a machete.
Brookfield resident Karly Jones, 15, was last week named a
‘‘junior triple-0 hero’’ by the Emergency Services Telecommunications
Authority (ESTA).
Karly was working at a Melton Indian restaurant on November 11 last year when a man entered the building demanding cash.
“I was just about to leave when the guy came in through the back,
he said if I didn’t give him money he would kill me,” she said.
“I gave him the money and then he left. I was slightly panicked.”
Karly’s call to triple-0 resulted in the man being located by police and arrested over a string of robberies.
Mother Linda said she was very proud of her daughter.
“She’s handled it really well,” Ms Jones said.
“I was a bit shocked when it happened. I was quite panicked, but it was a relief to get her home afterwards.
“She was back at work two to three days later and I think that’s really good, because she did think about not going back.”
Karly was one of 20 young people who received an award.
ESTA chief executive Ken Shymanski said the awards recognised initiative.
“The emergencies that resulted in the awards show that teaching
children when and how to call triple-0 really does save lives,” he said.
“It is very important that children know where they live and the
nearest street or intersection, so we can pinpoint exactly where they
are in an emergency.”
