Vanessa Robinson on life since sons Chase and Tyler died from carbon monoxide exposure

VANESSA Robinson lost both her previous young sons, Chase and Tyler, to a silent killer. She has a message we should all pay attention to.

EVERY time Vanessa Robinson gets a thank you message from someone warned about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning, her heart is touched.

Since her two precious young sons died from the silent killer, she has tirelessly campaigned for public safety.

But having started a new life in Melbourne, she is also turning her thoughts to becoming more than the mum from the country who lost her kids.

“I am really now open to try and do some stuff for myself at this point of my life,” she says.

“I love Melbourne. I’d be at a supermarket in Shepparton and people would go ‘Oh this is Vanessa whose kids died’, and it would happen all the time.

“There’s no place really once you have had everything wiped out for you, you don’t really fit into society any more.

“I am just trying to be a bit more social and try to slowly do some positive stuff for myself.”

It is almost seven years to the day that Chase, 8, and Tyler, 6, perished.

Chase and Tyler Robinson. Picture: Supplied

They were lying beside her in bed as lethal amounts of carbon monoxide leaked from a gas heater in their rented home in Mooroopna, near Shepparton.

While no others have died in the same manner since, Ms Robinson warns there are still a lot of “near misses”.

Others unknowingly suffer from lower exposure levels, mistaken for exhaustion or the flu.

Ms Robinson, 36, is worried that with energy costs rapidly rising, shortcuts will be taken.

She believes a widespread rebate scheme for low-income households to get appliances serviced should be introduced. She plans to raise the issue with Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio.

She also repeated calls for laws to force landlords to get gas and fuel-burning appliances checked by a qualified gasfitter at least every two years in public and private rental properties.

Ms Robinson formed The Chase and Tyler Foundation after the deaths. She also teams with Energy Safe Victoria to promote safety.

She juggles that with a carer services administration job at a hospital.

Vanessa Robinson. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Tuesday marks the anniversary of the boys’ death. She is likely to spend a quiet day alone.

Ex-husband Scott, the children’s father, will visit the cemetery.

Asked whether she has thought about having more children, she replies: “It goes through my head, I mean I love kids and having a family is absolutely beautiful.

“You reflect back and we never appreciate how wonderful our life is and how great that we’ve got it until something horrendous happens.

“I do think about having kids but then I think about the fact that if I did I couldn’t be the same type of mum as what I used to be. I’m not saying no, but if it does happen, I’d have to feel safe.”

Energy Safe Victoria acting energy safety director Neil Fraser said all types of gas heaters should be professionally serviced at least every two years.

He also warned outdoor appliances such as patio heaters and generators attached to portable gas bottles should not be used indoors.

@KarenCollierHS