Batty, Rosie (1962…), is an Australian activist against family violence, including child abuse and domestic violence . Batty began campaigning against family violence after her 11-year-old son was murdered by his father, Greg Anderson.
Anderson had a history of violence and criminal behavior. On Feb. 12, 2014, he murdered his son, Luke, at a cricket practice in Tyabb, Victoria . Immediately after Luke’s death, Batty started speaking publicly about family violence in Australia. In 2015, she established the Luke Batty Foundation in her son’s honor. The organization served primarily as a prevention program for domestic and family violence. Batty also founded Never Alone, the foundation’s campaigning branch. In 2018, Batty resigned from and closed the foundation, citing the need to rest and grieve in privacy.
Batty has received several awards for her work. In 2015, she was named Victorian Australian of the Year, as well as Australian of the Year . In 2019, Batty was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia . The order is Australia’s highest award for service to the country or to humanity.
Rosemary Anne Batty was born on Feb. 9, 1962, in Laneham, England , about 45 miles (70 kilometers) east of Sheffield. After high school, Batty worked as a bank clerk and as a nanny in Austria . When she was 24 years old, she moved to Australia . Batty co-wrote a memoir, A Mother’s Story (2015, with Bryce Corbett).
