Rosie’s cover for The Weekly comes at the end of a remarkable year for the domestic violence campaigner, who has emerged a powerful voice in the fight against family violence.
It is just over a year since Rosie’s son Luke, 11 was killed whilst at cricket practice by her estranged former partner, Greg Anderson.
“When Rosie was named Australian of The Year, it seemed like the most natural choice in the world,” says editor-in-chief of The Australian Women’s Weekly, Helen McCabe. “Her competition for the award was formidable, yet when her name was called, it seemed like the most obvious choice.
“In the space of twelve short months, she has almost single-handedly given rise to a Royal Commission on family violence in Victoria, has been appointed by the Prime Minister to a national taskforce to fight domestic violence and has started a national conversation about how we deal with this scourge which still touches one in three Australian women. And she has done all of this whilst grieving an unimaginable loss.”
Rosie Batty after being awarded Australian of the Year 2015.
In her interview with The Weekly for the April issue, Rosie speaks frankly about the pain she experiences daily as she continues to process the death of Luke.
“I think about him constantly,” Rosie tells the magazine. “Every hour of every day. And I wonder if it is always going to be like this.”
Since becoming Australian of The Year in January, Rosie has become highly sought-after, with a schedule that sees her criss-crossing the country speaking at events and working to raise the profile of frontline service providers for victims of domestic violence.
She will be the guest of honour at the Crown/Women’s Weekly Autumn Ladies Lunch in Sydney tomorrow, which is raising funds for The Luke Batty Foundation, Catherine House, DV Connect and Safe Steps.
For more information about any of these services, or to donate, visit their websites.
http://lukebattyfoundation.com.au/
http://www.catherinehouse.org.au/
If you are a victim of domestic violence, call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
