Luke Batty Foundation to close as Rosie Batty announces she will ‘step away’

DOMESTIC violence campaigner Rosie Batty has stepped down from the charitable foundation honouring her son, as it prepares to close its doors.

DOMESTIC violence campaigner Rosie Batty has stepped down from the foundation honouring her son, as it prepares to close its doors.

The former Australian of the Year announced the move after a “gruelling and unrelenting four years in the public eye”.

Last Monday marked the fourth anniversary of her son Luke’s death at the hands of his father, Greg.

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Ms Batty said she needed to step down as the Luke Batty Foundation’s chief executive to look after herself.

“Now I need time to myself,” Ms Batty said.

“Time to mourn and remember Luke, the centre of my world.

Rosie Batty will “step away”. Picture: Eugene Hyland

Luke Batty was killed in 2014. Picture: Supplied

“Time to spend at home with my beautiful animals that continue to comfort me in ways that only four legged companions can.

“This is a difficult decision but I know it’s the right decision — I need to step away from my public role for a while and take time to breathe.”

Luke, 11, was killed during cricket practice in 2014, in a crime that sent shockwaves across Victoria.

A stoic Ms Batty spoke of her heartbreak at the time and later set up the foundation to better support victims of domestic violence.

I'm so proud of everything we have achieved. Together we gave victims a voice and demanded our leaders act. I now need some time to myself. While I am not disappearing entirely, I do need to step away for a while. Read my message here: https://t.co/PisQAqjWdc

— Rosie Batty (@RosieBatty1) February 16, 2018

Foundation chairman Andrew Fairley said he had a “deep appreciate” of Ms Batty’s tireless work.

The foundation has stopped taking donations and will send current money to not-for-profit family violence initiatives.

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“After four years of tirelessly campaigning on behalf of victims of family and domestic violence the Board has accepted Rosie’s decision to step away from the intensity of the day to day commitments of the Foundation,” Mr Fairley said.

“Out of the most harrowing of circumstances, Rosie emerged as a leading voice calling for societal change to the way that we speak about, respond to and work to prevent domestic and family violence.”

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