Australian Of The Year and anti-domestic violence activist Rosie Batty has today marked what would have been her son Luke Batty‘s thirteenth birthday with a powerful campaign against family violence, launching neveralone.com.au.
In a statement to the media today, Rosie Batty said, “I can’t bring him [Luke Batty] back, and his absence leaves a hole in my heart every day,” but added, “I am campaigning hard, every single day. I’m driving to keep supporting all victims of family violence because no-one should have to go through what I’m going through and my journey doesn’t end.”
Rosie Batty’s son Luke, then aged 11, was murdered by his father at a cricket practice in Melbourne’s outer suburbs in January last year.
Today’s campaign, Never Alone, urges all Australians to stand beside victims of domestic violence, and push for the Government to prioritise strategies against family abuse on the national agenda.
“I am asking all Australians to stand with me beside every victim of family violence by joining the Never Alone campaign. It’s a journey of discovery, to understand the drivers and solutions to the family violence epidemic.”But it’s also a journey with a mission. One that will hold our leaders to account.”
Operating indepndently of Rosie Batty’s campaign, women’s rights group Destroy The Joint is currently documenting every woman’s violent death at the hands of a current or former partner in Australia with ‘Counting Dead Women‘. Destroy The Joint’s tally for 2015 sits at 44.
On average, two women have been killed by current or former partners in 2015. One woman is hospitalised every three hours for domestic violence-related causes. And the police respond to a domestic violence call every two minutes, every day.
With an epidemic upon us, Rosie Batty says, “We will not tip toe around the issue of family violence. We will say the things that make us uncomfortable.”
Show your support for the Never Alone campaign over here.
Lead image by Stefan Postles via Getty.
If you, or a child, is in immediate danger, call 000.
Domestic violence is never acceptable. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, calls can be made 24 hours a day on 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) to the National Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence Counselling Line, or to Lifeline on 131 114. The Kids Helpline can be reached on 1800 55 1800.
