Girls’ bravery recognised

24 February 2010

IAN LEWIS

QUICK action by two school girls saved the life of an elderly Casterton woman who fell over and hit her head badly in her front garden last September.

Ninety-year-old Eileen Harvey fell over in the front garden of her Henty St unit on September 18 and received three bad lacerations to her head, which bled profusely.

Due to the injuries, she was unable to regain her feet and lay in her garden semi-conscious. Fortunately for Mrs Harvey, twins Caitlin and Victoria Halloran were returning home from school when they heard a noise in Mrs Harvey’s garden and they stopped to investigate.

It was then they discovered Mrs Harvey lying on the ground with severe head injuries and they immediately applied first-aid and rang for an ambulance.

Local Ambulance Victoria station officer Geoff Elmes was quick on the scene and said afterwards that Mrs Harvey owed her life to the Monivae College schoolgirls.

“Without their quick action, there is no doubt Mrs Harvey would have died,” he said. “The three head injuries she had were really bad.”

Mr Elmes nominated the twins for an Ambulance Victoria bystander commendation that was presented to them on Monday.

The girls were presented with an Ambulance Victoria commendation

Casterton Station Officer Geoffrey Elmes nominated the girls for a bystander commendation that was presented to them at the Casterton branch on Monday February 22 at 5pm.

The girl’s parents and the Casterton paramedics worked together to keep the information secret from the sisters.