Roz Hervey Bids a Heartfelt Goodbye: A Journey Towards Voluntary Assisted Dying After Two Years with MND

Roz Hervey, a luminous figure in the realm of performing arts, recently declared her departure from this world, but not without a final flourish of gratitude that could light up the darkest corner of a stage. Diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2022, her health took a turn for the worse as the months rolled on, leading her to the momentous decision to embrace voluntary assisted dying. A heartbreaking yet hopeful letter marked her goodbye, revealing a soul that danced through life with every ounce of joy and creativity she could muster.

“Over the past two years, I’ve embraced every moment, laughing, loving, and living with all of you,” Ms. Hervey penned with a heart wide open. It’s a bittersweet reminder that we often think we have all the time in the world, yet life has a way of nudging you toward the exit rather abruptly. “Goodbyes are hard and I couldn’t deal with the sadness," she wrote, an intimate revelation that resonates deeply with anyone who has had to bid adieu to the people and experiences that color our lives.

Ah, the irony of life—just as she was seeking to cherish her time, her body, much like a poorly designed costume, began to unravel. “In the next month or so, I would have become totally dependent,” she explained. A true artist at heart, Roz wanted to exit the party before last call, and who could blame her? Why stick around when you can stage a graceful exit?”

Her decision to tap into South Australia’s voluntary assisted dying program, despite initial plans to travel all the way to Switzerland, reflects her resilience and desire for agency over her own fate. “This has made me so happy … to choose when I wanted to die, with dignity, surrounded by my beautiful family in my hometown,” she wrote, striking a note of defiance against the circumstances that sought to define her. In a world where love appears to be the only certainty, she urged all to “live for love.” After all, it’s love that spins the universe on its axis—who wouldn’t want to chase it until the very last moment?

Channeling her inner Dr. Seuss, Roz quoted, “Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened,” a testament to her indomitable spirit. In her parting ask, she requested some space for her family in the coming week, a reflection of the very kindness she extended to everyone around her. Her passing has left a gaping hole in the fabric of the artistic community, with tributes flooding social media. “Our Restless family are heartbroken, and we are not sure how to navigate the days ahead,” echoed Restless Dance Theatre, embodying the void her absence has created.

Roz Hervey was not merely a name; she was a symbol of generosity, courage, and joy. “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,” stated Theatre Republic. A poignant tribute from her colleagues and friends reinforces the idea that while life can sometimes feel like a tragicomedy, people like Roz remind us to shine our light brightly, even in the face of inevitable endings. She leaves behind her two children, Tilda—a globe-trotting actress—and Huey, along with her artistic partner, Geoff Cobham.

In the grand performance of life, Roz Hervey took her final bow, reminding us that love and laughter are nothing short of a standing ovation, even as the curtain falls.