Community Profile – November 23, 2017

One day last summer while on Lorne beach, Mila, aged 11, happened to notice two girls “sploshing” awkwardly nearby. “I thought I’d better go and see if they are alright, just in case.” She grabbed her surf board and paddled out to investigate. She found two Japanese girls in difficulty. One had her head under water and was not coming back up and the other clearly was having trouble. She was able to use the Japanese she was learning at school to help get them onto her board and then headed for shore where life savers took over. Mila’s quick thinking, skill on her board and saving two lives have earned her community awards from Corangamite and Lorne. I asked how she felt about all the recognition and attention she was receiving. Shyly she said, “I feel happy and a bit proud”.

She has been a Nipper since she was six but although not having covered rescuing people yet, she felt sure what she had been taught helped her that day. She urges all young people to join Nippers. She is looking forward to earning her bronze medallion, then her silver and gold and becoming a qualified lifesaver.

Mila came to Lorne with her family from Argentina when she was four. She attended the local school for four years before moving to Christian College in Geelong. Only in grade six, she has plenty of time to think about what she would like to do after school but says maybe a marine biologist or a police officer. I have the feeling Mila will succeed in anything she sets her mind on.

She loves sport. She has played back pocket in AFL football for her school for two years and now is trying out to play in an outside club. “I used to ski in Argentina and now I have started to ski again at Mt Buller”. Mila’s summers are spent surfing and horse riding.

CW