Laura Bishop's future was decided for her at the age of 12 years.
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The nursing and paramedicine student and scholarship winner at the Australian Catholic University had just arrived home from school in August 2008, when her seven-week-old sister went limp in her mother's arms.
Ella had stopped breathing, and as her mum began to panic, Ms Bishop grabbed the phone and called triple-0, together with her other sister relaying the call-taker's life-saving instructions to their mum.
Both were waiting at the front for two Albury paramedics, Bernie Meares and Fiona Dillon, who took Ella to hospital.
"The ability for the girls to relay the life-saving directions to their mum was vital," Mr Meares told the Border Mail at the time.
"When we arrived baby Ella was kicking and screaming. It's always nice for us to find a crying baby as funny as that sounds because we know they are breathing."
Together, they saved Ella's life, Ms Bishop said. Ella was diagnosed with gastro and inhaling vomit into her lungs.
Ms Bishop and her sister Caitlin were awarded the Ambulance Service of NSW Star awards and later appeared in a TV show called triple zero heroes. During filming, they were reunited with the call-taker and the paramedics who were sent to the house.
"One of the NSW paramedics, Fiona Dillon, at the time, showed us such compassion and calmed the whole situation. She was a true hero to me and she was the driving influence behind my decision to want to be just like her when I was older."
Ms Dillon died of ovarian cancer two years later, but not before leaving a lasting influence on Ms Bishop, now 19-years-old.
"At 12-years-old my future career was decided and I knew one day I wanted more than anything to help people and save lives," she said.
Ms Bishop has moved from Thurgoona, NSW, to Canberra, and was the recipient of the Calvary John James Hospital Excellence in Nursing and Paramedicine Scholarship.
She's just finished her first semester of study. "I'm just really enjoying everything, I can't see myself doing any other thing."
