Much-loved arts figure Roz Hervey has farewelled friends, family and colleagues.
Warning: This story discusses voluntary assisted dying.
The former dancer, choreographer, director and producer announced her own death in a heartfelt letter.
She was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in late 2022, and had been open about her intentions to access voluntary assisted dying (VAD).
“Over the past two years, I’ve embraced every moment, laughing, loving, and living with all of you,” Ms Hervey wrote.
“This letter will come as a surprise to many, you knew it was coming, but not maybe today.
“Goodbyes are hard and I couldn’t deal with the sadness.”
Ms Hervey explained that her MND had rapidly progressed over the last three months, and was affecting her breathing.
Roz Hervey [right], with her children, Tilda and Huey Cobham-Hervey. (Supplied)
“In the next month or so I would have become totally dependent. I was always very clear that I do not want this. I wanted to leave the party while it’s still going, that time is now,” she wrote.
While she had been approved to travel to Switzerland to access euthanasia, ultimately, her breathing deterioration meant she qualified for South Australia’s VAD program.
“This has made me so happy … to choose when I wanted to die, with dignity, surrounded by my beautiful family in my hometown,” Ms Hervey wrote.
“I want to ask you to live for love. I have certainly received so much of it. Love is what makes the world go around, and I truly have no regrets.”
In alignment with her positive outlook on life, she quoted Dr Seuss in her letter: “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
She requested that her family was given space for the next week.
Colleagues and friends have shared tributes on social media.
“Her Restless family are heartbroken, and we are not sure how to navigate the days ahead,” Restless Dance Theatre posted.
“What we do know is that we will step into the love she shone on us and seize everyday.”
“Roz was the embodiment of everything good about us humans. Generous, courageous, big hearted, passionate, loyal, intelligent, selfless and full of joy,” Theatre Republic posted.
“You won’t find a bad word spoken about Roz and rightly so. We are all the richer for having had her in our lives.”
Ms Hervey is survived by her two children — her daughter Tilda Cobham-Hervey who is an international actress and her son Huey Cobham-Hervey — and artistic director partner Geoff Cobham.
