A Mother's Story (29 page)

With Dorothy the goat – Luke loved animals as much as I do.

Luke aged about four. He was a typical little boy – clever and brave on the outside with a soft, compassionate centre.

Aware that Luke was an only child, I made sure he spent plenty of time with other kids, and Leonie's boys, Daniel and James, were like big brothers to him: from left, Leonie, Daniel, James and Luke.

Luke enjoyed a laugh and was loved for his ability to entertain. Among his presents on Christmas day he received a stuffed toy of SpongeBob, one of his favourite characters.

Luke and my then partner David in Arguments Yard in Whitby, UK. David was an important person in Luke's life, but they did enjoy an argument.

Luke at a Flinders Christian College athletics carnival. He loved his sport.

Luke hamming it up at his SpongeBob birthday party.

Luke and me with my parents when they visited Australia.

Luke Geoffrey Batty, 2002–2014

My son, Luke, was killed by his father on 12 February 2014. The next day I spoke to the media assembled at my front gate, the first of countless appearances I've made to discuss family violence.
Photo Nicole Garmston/Newspix

Two days after Luke died, students from his school, Flinders Christian College, paid tribute to him at Tyabb Cricket Ground.
Photo Alex Coppel/Newspix