The day my life changed forever

ROSIE Batty will gather with her murdered son’s friends at 6.30pm today to remember her little boy five years after his senseless death at the hands of his father.

The murder of Luke Batty at Tyabb Cricket Club in Victoria on February 12, 2014, by his dad Greg Anderson, shocked Australia.

In the years since, his mother has spearheaded a drive to combat family violence. She said that, in many ways, it seemed like a lifetime ago her beloved son was taken from her.

“You can’t believe five years has already passed but it seems a long time ago and a different life that I had him,” she said.

Ms Batty and Luke’s friends will come together tonight at a memorial garden built next to the cricket nets where the youngster lost his life

“At 6.30pm I’m going down to Luke’s memorial garden to meet up with the group of friends, who were his friends at school,” Ms Batty said.

“They usually meet down there on the anniversary of his death each year. It is just a coming together and sharing some memories and some meaningful words.”

Ms Batty said watching Luke’s friends grow older could be difficult.

“His friends are now 16 turning 17 and their understanding and appreciation compared to what they knew of family violence at 11 years old and to what they know of what happened to Luke continues to deepen as they mature.”

Luke was killed in the cricket nets by his father just before 6.30pm five years ago today. Ms Batty, who was named Australian of the Year in 2015, has worked tirelessly in the past five years to shine a light on family violence.