Rosie Batty - Strength, Bravery, Courage and DIGNITY

I have just read a very interesting, yet backward article in the Australian Financial Review by past politician, Mark Latham. I am not a usual peruser of the AFR, (You're shocked, I know!) This article however, has crossed my path a few times in the last few days and I decided that it was time that I had a read.

Have a read yourself…...and tell me what you think.

http://www.afr.com/opinion/columnists/mark-latham-argues-we-are-putting-women-in-danger-20150626-ghw6dx

I know, I know. I am a very low key, nobody blogger, whose words will have little or no impact. But I just couldn’t let this one go. I don’t have the audience Mark Latham does, but I tell you what. If I did, I would be a lot more respectful of a woman who has been through what Rosie Batty has been through. A woman who is using her grief and tragic circumstances to try and ensure that what happened to her does not happen to anyone else.

I read on, getting slightly frustrated with the tone of the article. And then I reached this line…….

“There was a time, in the dignity of working class life, when grieving was conducted in private. In the 1960s, nobody tried to enlist the parents of Adelaide's missing Beaumont children as celebrity speakers.”

And my frustration turned to red hot fury.

Yes! Let’s live in the 60’s where we grieve in private so as not to disturb our working class neighbours with our dirty laundry. Let’s not share our stories in order to help those around us. Let’s sit quietly and darn socks while we are at it!

I support Rosie Batty. I support Rosie Batty, the victim and I support Rosie Batty, the public speaker. 


I don’t know Rosie Batty, have never met her in my life. I have seen what everyone else has seen.

I have seen the woman whose boy was taken from her by the man who was supposed to be the one to protect both her and her son. I have seen the woman who has spoken so bravely to raise awareness regarding family violence. If Rosie’s public grief means that just one woman in Rosie’s past situation has the bravery to walk away and get help then I am happy to listen.

We are not living in the 60’s and we are trying desperately to break down the barriers that were so strong in that era. We want women and men to talk about family violence. We want people to seek help for what were once ‘private’ issues, be it violence, depression, mental health...the list goes on.

“Men are also blurting out intimate accounts of life-disasters.”

God forbid! Men are talking…..about their problems! We want men to talk openly about their issues, not hide behind 1960’s style macho walls.

At no point would I ever consider talking publicly about your grief, issues or problems, a lack of “dignity.” 


Bravery, courage and strength….those are the words that I would associate with Rosie Batty….and any other victim who is strong enough to stand beside her.

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