So three years after the two-year-old was run over in the family’s Alfredton driveway, Paul is speaking out to remind parents to always be vigilant around their children.

“When I found out the statistics that one kid is run over in a driveway every four days I just thought ‘this is wrong’,” Paul said.

“I can understand how it happens. The difference between Abby being here and not being here was a few seconds.

“We still struggle with it every day and I’d hate to think anyone has to go through what we do.”

Abby died on February 11, 2009, 12 days short of her second birthday.

“It woke a lot of people up but every now and again you need to be reminded what’s important,” Paul said.

“Kids are the greatest gift you’ll get and you can never be too vigilant.”

Paul said Abby was waving goodbye from the doorway of the family home – something she had done hundreds of times – when she suddenly ran silently 15 metres into the car’s path.

“You just expected her to do what she always did. But kids are unpredictable and have minds of their own.”

Milestones are particularly hard, especially as Abby should have started school last week.

Paul said Ballarat residents had rallied around him, his wife Nicki and other children Joshua, Laura, Elena and Xxavier.

“We have a lot of great friends. The people of Ballarat are sensational,” he said.

“But bad things happen to good people. I’ll be relieved if, by speaking out, I can turn a potential catastrophe into just a near miss.”