Liam McNally
On Tuesday, May 9 Allison Rees addressed the Rotary Club of Melton at Tabcorp Park, to share her story and raise awareness about the dangers of button batteries (BBs).
In 2015 the Taylors Hill mother experienced tragedy when her 14-month-old daughter, Isabella, died after a small round battery became lodged in her oesophagus.
Since then, Ms Rees has been fighting on behalf of her not-for-profit organisation, Bellas Footprints to raise awareness about the dangers of BBs.
Her campaign culminated in 2022 with federal laws introduced to make BB products require compulsory and improved warning labels, secure battery compartments, and child resistant packaging.
“These changes are nearly everything I proposed to the ACCC eight years ago, And I’m honoured to have played an enormous part in making this happen,” she said.
“But it’s also bittersweet for me. My life will never be the same since I lost my little girl, but I’m grateful Bella’s story is helping to protect every child in Australia.”
Ms Rees’ fight is not over though, 20 children are still being hospitalised a week in Australia from BBs, and as the law only affects new products, she is determined to continue raising awareness to parents across the country that there are unsafe products in their homes.
On June 12, Bellas Footprints will be responsible for the first international BB awareness day in Australia.
“In the lead up to this day we need everyone’s help to work together to reach as many people as we can to ensure their homes, schools, daycares, workplaces and our local community are button battery safe,” she said.
“We need to continue to educate Australians on the dangers, how to be button battery safe and also how to dispose of BB correctly.”
