Rosie Batty named Australian of the Year
Domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty has been named 2015's Australian of the Year.
Amid the overwhelming sadness that followed the murder of her son by her ex-partner, Victorian mum Rosie Batty stood tall when many others would have fallen apart.
She has emerged from the tragedy as an agent for change, and a voice for Australia's many unheard victims of domestic violence.
Few have lost as much - her 11-year-old son Luke was killed by his father during cricket practise in February 2014.
She dedicated the award to her son.
"He is the reason I have found my voice and am able to be heard", Ms Batty said on Sunday.
“To Luke, my little man, you did not die in vain and will not be forgotten. You are with me every step of the way”.
"Being a mother was the most fulfilling role I've ever had in my life."
The remarkable, courageous, tireless @RosieBatty1 named Australian of the Year for 2015. #AustralianoftheYear #AustraliaDay
— Kristy Mayr (@KristyMayr7) January 25, 2015
Former governor-general Dame Quentin Bryce praised Ms Batty's courage and strength in a video message following the announcement.
"We own an enormous debt of gratitude to Rose for using her voice," she said.
At the time of Luke's death, his father, Greg Anderson, was subject to two intervention orders. He was shot dead by police.
Ms Batty doesn't blame the police for what happened to Luke, but the culture around domestic violence.
"We need to look at cultural change, where does violence come from?" she asked.
"You need to look in you own backyard."
Ms Batty's resolve has dragged an uncomfortable issue onto the national agenda.
She wants to change the way Australians reflexively think about domestic violence.
The actions of the violent perpetrator deserve scrutiny first, she says, and not the reactions of the victims enduring it.
"That's a key thing I would really like to see over the next decade," Ms Batty told AAP.
"That we would actually, without thinking, challenge that male behaviour rather than constantly going back to `why doesn't she leave? Why doesn't she do anything?`."
Ms Batty's advocacy moved Victoria's top-ranking police officer to speak out on the issue, leading a cultural shift in the way Victoria Police responds to domestic violence.
Outgoing chief commissioner Ken Lay (who officially steps down on January 31) has described Ms Batty as a remarkable woman intent on turning tragedy into a positive.
It's an honour that initially made her feel "conflicted ... thinking how can I get an award because Luke has died".
"Friends were able to say it's not because of Luke's death, it's how you've responded," Ms Batty said.
Luke would also be very proud of his mum, Ms Batty said.
"He'd initially think I was an embarrassment," she laughs.
Senior Australian of the Year went to Jackie French, Young Australian of the Year Drisana Levitzke-Gray, and Local Hero went to Juliette Wright.
