Actress Ruby Rose has paid tribute to her father, Peter, following his death a couple of days before Christmas.
In a caption on her Instagram stories on Monday, Rose, 38, said, “RIP Dad. You leave me. Alone. With so many complex emotions.”
The former Batwoman actress followed this on Christmas Day with a lengthier post on Instagram, including photos of her father.
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“R.I.P and Merry Christmas Dad. I am glad we reconnected a few years ago, not because you had changed all that much, not because it brought me all that much joy, it’s actually been very hard. You know that. You were very hard. I cut you off twice in that time lol. Once for a year … But our last emails, the ones right before you died. They were kind emails and I’m glad,” she said.
“I found it very hard to hear about what happened to you as a child. What happened to all of your siblings at the hands of St Augustine’s and other orphanages and boys’ homes in Melbourne. Brother Houston I hope you rot in jail.”
Rose’s father spent time at a Christian-run boy’s home in Melbourne that has since faced historical accusations of abuse against some of the children in its care. One former member associate of the home, Christian Brother William Houston, is currently in jail after being found guilty of sexually assaulting two boys at the institute in the 1960s.
“None of this undoes the abuse I incurred down the line, but it helped me understand you,” Rose continued.
“To try to understand you was to love you. R.I.P dad I’m very sorry no one protected you. I’m very sorry life was not so much more. I’m devastated really. You’re probably blown away by how sad I am. if you can see me.”
Rose ended by saying, “P.s I don’t think you ever really said sorry. Not really. You didn’t know where to begin, but I forgave you. And I still do. Love u.”
Early life
Rose was born on a farm on March 20, 1986, to parents Katia and Peter, a racehorse breeder. However, the couple split when Rose was just one year old. Rose was raised by her mom, who moved around frequently with her daughter, including spells in rural Victoria, Tasmania, and Surfers Paradise.
Online, many thanked Rose for opening up about her complex emotions relating to her father.
“Losing a parent, no matter how awful of a parent they were, is very hard,” said one. “For me, I had so many thoughts of what could have been had they had a good life and passed that on versus the crap that did get passed along. I’m so sorry for your loss of a parent. It’s what we do from here that matters. Hugs and hope for a healthy recovery.”
Another said, “I lost my father and the grief you’re sharing feels very familiar to me. It’s been a year and a half and I’m still unsure of my feelings. Sending love your way and a reminder you’re not alone.”
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