Tuesday, 23rd October 2012

Today is a milestone in my life that I will never forget.

Tuesday, 23rd October 2012 is the day the NSW government officially recognized my hard work, tears and most importantly, my son Jaise.

NSW Pool Laws changed today and Jaise's Law was acknowledged by Minister Don Page through his media release and now Jaise's Legacy is in place.

If it wasn't for my beautiful little man, I wouldn't have pushed with every emotion I had, to have these laws changed. It is more than likely these changes would still be 'in the piplines'.

As I sit on the lounge now watching my daughters play and watch some TV, I can't help but feel sad.

Don't get me wrong, I'm very very happy with what today has bought, but also heartbroken because my little Jaise had to die to make these changes possible.

I have some advice for everyone out there...

Firstly never waste time worrying about the little things. Cherish every moment you have with your friends and loved ones.

Take photos!! Take photos of everything and everyone. Memories are precious and I am glad I took so many photos... Because one day my girls may not remember everything about Jaise, luckily I have plenty of photos for them.

If you ever feel strongly about ANYTHING, then you need to fight for it. Ask fr help if you need it and do not give up!! My fight is proof that if you want something bad enough you can achieve it!

I leave you tonight with these last words....

Watch your children in and around the water.
NEVER leave a child unattended in a bath, pool, dam, beach or any other body of water.
Dont prop open pool gates or intentionally tamper with the fencing or locks.
If it needs fixing, FIX it, dont put it off because thats death waiting for a victim.
Lasty, never EVER leave an older child in charge of younger chidren around water.

Changes on the Horizon....

Its been a while since I have posted anything on here.... why?
I have been trying to get my children and myself back to some sort of normal life.
I have focused purely on my immediately family & friends to help get us in a better place.
While we have been on thus journey though I have been advocating with Kat and Andrew Plint from Hannah's Foundation to have Jaises Law passed in NSW.

Today this was shared on Jaise's Law on Facebook... http://www.facebook.com/#!/JaisesLaw

NSW Parliament speech by Tanya Davies MP:

Mrs TANYA DAVIES (Mulgoa) [1.05 p.m.]: I congratulate the Minister for Local Government, Mr Donald Page, and the O'Farrell Government on their action to protect toddlers from harm in backyard pools by introducing new legislation to ensure backyard pools comply with regulations. There are approximately 340,000 backyard swimming pools within New South Wale...

s. Whilst swimming pools offer exercise and enjoyment, they also can be a silent killer if young children are not constantly supervised and pool fencing is non-compliant. It is unacceptable that New South Wales is over-represented in statistics on national backyard swimming pool drownings. On average six children drown in private swimming pools in New South Wales each year. This figure has remained constant over the past 15 years. Last week the Minister for Local Government announced a plan to introduce this legislation, stating:

… children's safety is paramount and very young children are most at risk. Every child drowning is a tragedy to families and communities, not least because it is preventable through ensuring responsible supervision and complaint barriers.

Such tragedy was brought to my attention by Kelly Taylor, a resident of Queensland. Whilst on a holiday to visit her family in New South Wales, Kelly rented a holiday home where her two-year-old son Jaise lost his life after drowning in a pool that had a non-compliant pool fence. Kelly shared her personal and painful story in the hope that governments would change legislation to ensure Jaise's death was not in vain. She said:

Jaise drowned in NSW at a rental property in which relatives were able to rent. Little did they or myself know that the pool in their yard was a killer which robbed me of my son and our family …

That day lives with my every breath, every day of my life and has further traumatised my daughters …

I speak for the safety of children, the safety of the community and most of all my campaign as personal and raw as it has been is now a partial reality that Jaise's story has been heard. His death will not be in vain and I ask the NSW Parliament to make a mention of Jaise's Law in regards to pool safety and rental properties compulsory certification and public pool register in his memory and I will continue with this to save more children's lives.

Together the Parliament, the community and tragic stories such as my son's death can help save others the pain and anguish that I now have to suffer every day because I visited your state on holidays and went to a house with a non compliant rental pool property. Jaise should still be here if people, builders and councils would have upheld the laws in which they were bound by.

I just wish everyday that my son Jaise was still here with me, these laws when passed will show that my son's death wasn't in vain and I hope and know that future lives will be saved.

Kindest Regards,
Kelly Taylor—Jaise's Mummy

Andrew and Katherine Plint, the founders of Hannah's Foundation, began a national day of drowning prevention awareness and support after the drowning death of their daughter Hannah on 4 October 2007. That day is dedicated to remembering loved ones lost to drowning and as a day of awareness to prevent such needless loss of life. The incidence of drownings is preventable with full-time supervision and compliant barriers. The proposed legislation is not and will not replace the absolute necessity for constant supervision of babies, toddlers and young children around pools or bodies of water, including melted ice in eskies after a party or the water in nappy buckets.

I urge all caregivers to ensure constant supervision of children at all times—not just in the spring and summer seasons when swimming tends to be more popular but all year round. I also urge pool owners to embrace this legislation and ensure their pool infrastructure is compliant. Having met Kelly Taylor and having worked with her and the Minister for Local Government over the past 12 months to strengthen the pool fence compliance legislation, I consider today a great day because we are changing the legislation to ensure, as much as governments can, that our children are safe and protected. Legislated measures cannot take the place of a caregiver's constant supervision. When using the word "supervise" I like to refer to the phrase "use your super eyes" to remind people to watch toddlers and young children. I thank the Minister for Local Government and the Government for introducing the proposed legislation and I commend the bill to the House.