Baton run for boy’s brave effort

By Shaun Inguanzo
A DANDENONG North teenager whose heroics earned him a bravery award from the State Government will carry the Queen’s Baton this week.
Josh Denholm, 14, said earlier this week he was excited but growing nervous ahead of today’s Queen’s Baton relay leg in Dandenong.
But the modest Dandenong High School student, who plays rock and heavy metal music with the school band, has been in more challenging positions before, including a matter of life or death.
When walking to school in February last year, Josh noticed an elderly Dandenong North resident in need of assistance outside her property.
He helped her to get inside her home where he realised she was having a cardiac arrest.
“I stayed with her and called the ambulance,” he said.
Because he called an ambulance the woman was taken to hospital for treatment and her family was able to visit her in hospital before she died later in the day.
The State Government awarded him a bravery award for his effort, and labelled him a Junior 000 Hero.
It was for this reason – among many others – that his mum, Jenny Bearham, nominated her son to run with the baton.
While Josh won’t be told of the details of his run until the day, the Star has learned that Josh is likely to be the baton bearer as it is escorted into Dandenong Hospital’s children’s ward today (Thursday, 2 March).