Rosie Batty

Rosie Batty
Batty speaking at the University of South Australia in 2015
Born	Rosemary Anne Batty (1962-02-09) 9 February 1962 (age 55) Laneham, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom
Nationality	British
Citizenship	Australian
Known for	Domestic violence campaigner
Children	Luke Batty (2002–2014)
Awards	2015 Australian of the Year

Rosemary Anne "Rosie" Batty (born 9 February 1962) is an Australian domestic violence campaigner and the 2015 Australian of the Year. Her role as a campaigner began in 2014 after her 11 year old son Luke Batty was murdered by his father Greg Anderson. As a campaigner, she has spoken publicly about her experiences as a survivor of domestic violence in order to raise public awareness and advocate for changes in police responses, the delivery of support services and government engagement. Batty is considered to have had a significant influence on national public attitudes, donations and allocations of funding, government initiatives, and police and legal procedures related to domestic violence in Australia.

Batty was born in England and settled in Australia in 1988 following an initial visit in 1986.

Batty met Greg Anderson in 1992 when they worked together at a recruitment company and the two began a romantic relationship which lasted two years. Anderson showed signs of sexual violence whilst they were together, including allegedly attempting to rape a friend of Batty's. Batty has relayed:

"In many instances I would wake up in the middle of the night and find him having sex with me, having let himself into my room and bed. I would be too shocked to say or do anything, and he would gratify himself and leave. For reasons I still don't really understand today, I never considered it rape. I think I was just so confused by him and this ill-defined relationship we had. He didn't ostensibly (sic) force me to have sex with him, but it was all so furtive and abnormal. Talking to my friend that night, something in me snapped and I thought, you bastard! I was furious with him - and with myself. It made me realise the emotional and physical abuse to which he had been subjecting me, and I resolved to cut him out of my life. Later that evening, Greg tried to come into my bedroom. I told him to fuck off and make plans to leave my house immediately."

Anderson left on the following weekend and they ended the two year relationship. Almost 8 years later she initiated contact with him and resumed a brief sexual relationship which led to Batty's pregnancy.

Their son Luke was born on 20 of June 2002.

Batty has said that Anderson's abuse began shortly after they met and increased when she fell pregnant. Batty has expressed that Anderson was a loving father to Luke and she defended his right to have contact with their son.

Soon after Luke was born, Anderson physically assaulted Batty, prompting her to end their relationship, although Anderson remained in contact. From June 2004 until February 2014, Anderson physically assaulted Batty and threatened to kill her on numerous occasions, leading to a number of arrests, charges and intervention orders.