Rosie Batty AO (b. 1962), campaigner against family violence, became well known to the Australian public in early 2014, when her eleven-year-old son Luke was murdered by his father as she stood waiting to take him home from cricket practice. Increasingly erratic and aggressive over the years, his father was subject to a court order restricting his access to mother and son. After he killed Luke, police shot him; the next day, he died. Very soon after, Batty made a dignified public statement that stunned the nation. In 2015, she was Australian of the Year, using her position to call for widespread recognition of, and action on, domestic violence. The issue is now prominent in Australian public discourse, with various government initiatives, advertising campaigns, sports associations and charities maintaining the momentum. After meeting Batty, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews established Victoria's 2015 Royal Commission into Family Violence, which led to $2.7 billion in funding for prevention of violence and support for victims.
The first thing photographer Nikki Toole noticed when she met Batty were her eyes. Crystal blue, and reflecting strength and sorrow in equal measure. For the portrait, Toole wanted to capture the real Batty, with natural light and no retouching. The result is a raw, unflinching image that shows Batty's resilience and determination.
Commissioned with funds provided by the Circle of Friends 2017
© Nikki Toole
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