Tilda Cobham-Hervey’s mum Roz Hervey’s pens heartfelt final message before using SA’s VAD laws

The SA stage star and mother of a Hollywood actor said she wanted to “leave the party while it’s still going” after a 2022 terminal diagnosis. Read her letter.

The mother of Hollywood actor Tilda Cobham-Hervey has used the state’s voluntary assisted dying laws to end her life, saying she wanted to “leave the party while it’s still going”.

Local theatre legend Roz Hervey, who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in late 2022, explained her decision in a heartfelt letter saying the disease had developed quickly over the last three months, and was impacting her breathing.

“Over the past two years, I’ve embraced every moment, laughing, loving, and living with all of you,” Ms Hervey wrote.

“In the next month or so I would have become totally dependent. I was always very clear that I do not want this. I wanted to leave the party while it’s still going, that time is now.”

A former dancer, director and producer, Ms Hervey had openly talked about her desire to access voluntary assisted dying (VAD), and her breathing difficulties meant she qualified for the program.

“This has made me so happy … to choose when I wanted to die, with dignity, surrounded by my beautiful family in my hometown,” she wrote about her decision to spend her final moments in SA.

She quoted Dr Seuss in this letter: “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”

Ms Hervey requested that her family was given space for the next week.

Her theatre colleagues shared tributes online following Ms Hervey’s death.

Theatre Republic SA said they wanted to “celebrate” her for her work and being “the embodiment of everything good about us humans”.

“She was a colleague, collaborator, mentor and most importantly a friend,” the company on social media.

SA Theatre royalty Roz Hervey has died this week.

“Roz was the embodiment of everything good about us humans. Generous, courageous, big hearted, passionate, loyal, intelligent, selfless and full of joy.

“You won’t find a bad word spoken about Roz and rightly so. We are all the richer for having had her in our lives.”

Ms Hervey served on the Board of Directors for Theatre Republic for 3 years and was the movement choreographer their inaugural production, LINES by Pamela Carter.

Prior to that, she spent more than 30 years as a dancer, choreographer, director and producer.

“Roz’s contribution to our little company was immense,” they wrote.

“Not only did she donate her talent and time to our first show, she was a wise and supportive presence on our board.

Ms Hervey was diagnosed with MND in 2022 and was focused on making “every moment count”.

Roz Hervey, Tilda, Huey Cobham-Hervey and Geoff Cobham on the red carpet at GU Film House in Adelaide, in October 2018. Picture: Matt Loxton

Theatre Republic wrote that following her diagnosis she stepped away from her commitments to “focus on her health, spend time with her family and give her all to her beloved Restless Dance Theatre.”

“But she never stopped supporting our work, most recently attending the opening night of ‘The Almighty Sometimes’,” they wrote.

The Restless Dance Theatre company shared how they are “heartbroken” in the wake of their Creative Producers’ death.

“She poured her heart, creativity, and soul into our beautiful company until the very last day,” They posted to their social media.

“Words cannot describe the impact she had on Restless and the global arts community.

“We are not sure how to navigate the days ahead … what we do know is that we will step into the love she shone on us and seize everyday.

“Rest peacefully, beautiful Roz.”

Roz Hervey’s last letter

“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened” - Dr. Seuss

Dear Friends, Families and Colleagues,

Goodbye beautiful humans, you’ve all been such an important part of my life.

This is a letter of gratitude.

Over the past two years, I’ve embraced every moment, laughing, loving, and living with all of you. I’ve found solace in the moments of beauty and the people who bring light into my life.

I’ve always worked hard but in the last 2 years I’ve also played hard, squeezing every last drop from life. I’ve had the chance to tell you how important you are to me.

This letter will come as a surprise to many, you knew it was coming but not maybe today. Goodbyes are hard and I couldn’t deal with the sadness.

For most of those close to me I have recently had the opportunity to hold you tightly, a little bit longer than usual.

This MND thing is a real shit of a disease. I have been referring to myself as having a disability, but I actually have a terminal illness and in the last three months things have been rapidly changing.

My body is riddled with the disease now, including my breathing. In the next month or so I would have become totally dependent. I was always very clear that I do not want this. I wanted to leave the party while it’s still going, that time is now.

I have been grateful to have had control of the timing of things. I had the greenlight from Dignitis in Switzerland and was looking at flights. But at my last hospital appointment my breathing had deteriorated so much that I qualified for the Voluntary Assisted Dying program in South Australia.

This has made me so happy…to choose when I wanted to die, with dignity, surrounded by my beautiful family in my hometown.

Some people will question why I worked until the end. You all know that I have been deeply passionate about my work. I am very grateful that throughout my life I have been focused on making art.

It’s what I love, it’s kept me going, and it’s surrounded me with incredible humans. I believe that the beauty and meaning in the work I have been involved in will live on in people’s memories.

I want to ask you to live for love. I have certainly received so much of it. Love is what makes the world go around, and I truly have no regrets. Though I will miss seeing my children grow up and having Coby by my side, I leave this life filled with gratitude and joy for everything I’ve experienced.

Yes, this is a farewell but I want you to celebrate all of the incredible moments we’ve shared together.

Please cherish the memories, laugh, and continue to seize the day in my honour.

Death is a part of life and I’m ready and very much at peace.

For the next week can you please give my family some space. No flowers. No lasagne.

I would like to invite you to a celebration of life and love, with my family, see below for details

Love Roz xx