Rozanna's curious life

  • Rozanna Lilley

    Press/Media: Other

    Description

    Rozanna Lilley was raised in a vibrant artistic family as the youngest child of the writers Merv Lilley and Dorothy Hewett.

    As she grew up, her mother was becoming increasingly famous for her plays, and her novel Bobbin Up.

    When Rose was 11 the family moved to Sydney.

    The family home became a gathering place for poets, writers, artists and musicians, who came for drunken parties and often stayed the night.

    As the parties swirled around her, Dorothy would hold court from a gold couch. 
    Sometimes older male visitors sexually exploited her daughters.

    The abuse was normalised in the household, and no one ever asked Rose if she was okay.

    As Rose grew up she struggled with the reality of her ‘carelessly broken childhood’.

    As well, she created a life of her own as a poet and an academic, and a mum.

    ******A warning: this conversation deals directly with some very confronting material and may be distressing.

    Subject

    biography

    Period18 Aug 2020

    Media coverage

    1

    Media coverage

    • TitleRozanna's curious life
      Degree of recognitionNational
      Media name/outletABC Conversations
      Media typeRadio
      Duration/Length/Size53min 42s
      Country/TerritoryAustralia
      Date18/08/20
      DescriptionRozanna Lilley was raised in a vibrant artistic family as the youngest child of the writers Merv Lilley and Dorothy Hewett.

      As she grew up, her mother was becoming increasingly famous for her plays, and her novel Bobbin Up.

      When Rose was 11 the family moved to Sydney.

      The family home became a gathering place for poets, writers, artists and musicians, who came for drunken parties and often stayed the night.

      As the parties swirled around her, Dorothy would hold court from a gold couch.
      Sometimes older male visitors sexually exploited her daughters.

      The abuse was normalised in the household, and no one ever asked Rose if she was okay.

      As Rose grew up she struggled with the reality of her ‘carelessly broken childhood’.

      As well, she created a life of her own as a poet and an academic, and a mum.

      ******A warning: this conversation deals directly with some very confronting material and may be distressing.
      Producer/AuthorAustralian Broadcasting Commission
      URLhttps://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/conversations/rozanna-lilley/12547976
      PersonsRozanna Lilley