The True Story of Rose and Luke Batty

There would be few who didn’t remember the tragic tale of young Luke Batty, beaten to death by his father in broad daylight when he was just 11 years old.

After his father Greg was shot to death by police, there was no answers to be had for his grieving mother Rose Batty.

Yet instead of falling into a pit, Rose Batty stood up. She stood up against domestic violence, with the voices of other women at her back who had suffered in the same way that she had. She stood up against Australia’s passive acceptance, against the lack of awareness, and against the many misconceptions that vulnerable women face when trying to get to a place of safety. All of this saw her awarded Australian of the Year this year, bringing yet more awareness to this vitally important campaign.

Now, with the help of journalist and author Bryce Corbett, Rose Batty has brought the full story to the public in the form of an autobiography called A Mother’s Story. The book hopes to shine more light on just what life was like as the partner of a domestic abuser, and how both Luke and Rose lived in confusion, fear and love at the hands of Greg Anderson.

What We Know

What we know about Luke Batty’s story is enough to make anyone shudder. A happy 11-year-old with a quick sense of humour, Luke Batty wasn’t so different to the pre-teens in our own lives. He loved his mum (embarrassingly in public) and was concerned with the finer art of being ‘cool’ as he got closer and closer to high school. But he was also sensitive, and a lover of football and cricket.

On the 12th of February, an average Wednesday, Luke Batty went to cricket training with his mother in tow. His dad was also there, the first time Luke had seen him since he’d been on holidays. Greg Anderson smiled when he saw Luke, looking happy and carefree. He cheered him at practice, and then they spent some time together. When training was over, Luke ran over to his mum to ask if he could spend just a few more minutes with his dad practising. She agreed.

It was the last time she would speak to her son.

Just moments later, Luke Batty was killed by his father, beaten in broad daylight with a bat in front of horrified onlookers. When police arrived, Anderson threatened them with a knife, and was shot. He would never be able to explain why he did it.

This was the beginning of Rose Batty’s journey as a domestic violence campaigner. In the days, weeks and months that followed we learned that Greg Anderson’s mental health had been deteriorating over the last two decades. Rose Batty had briefly been in a relationship with him, but his abuse had motivated her to leave and take Luke with her. She had a standing AVO against Anderson, but there was no sign he would hurt Luke, and she wanted him to have a relationship with his dad. It was a tragedy nobody could have predicted.

A Heavy Secret

Rose Batty’s autobiography A Mother’s Story will be released shortly. From the excerpts and reviews that have already hit the press, we can see that the book will provide a deeper level of insight into what many feel was a mysterious tragedy. In unpacking her relationship with Anderson, Batty is provides a clear and honest perspective on what it’s like to be the victim in a violent relationship, and the effect that can have on the children involved.

Luke Batty may have been a happy and humorous kid, but he was also carrying a secret that was too heavy for his heart. He was trying to protect his mum, at the same time as love his dad. Although flawed, Luke knew that his dad was a good person, one who loved him very much. He wanted his dad around, even if sometimes an unstable side of him came out.

With her frank style of story-telling, Rose Batty uncovers the boy behind Luke Batty, the one who felt as if his life had no purpose, and that he ‘might as well commit suicide’. She talks about how he tried to deal with the tumultuous emotions that come with being a teenager, as well as the child of a mentally ill man. He felt scared that his mother was in danger from Anderson, yet at the same time admitted that his father was the only thing he was living for. And tragically, Rose Batty describes how Luke remembers the abuse that she suffered at Anderson’s hands, how he wanted to help her but he was just too small.

Why You Must Read It

A Mother’s Story is probably one of the most important pieces of social literature released in Australia this decade. It’s not just the story of one average woman that makes clear there is no cut-off for domestic violence; it really can happen to everyone.  It’s also a part of a growing tide of Australians who want to talk about domestic violence, and how we can make a difference to the statistics that shame our nation.