Liza Shaw and Rohan Wightman first met in 1998 in Lismore, New South Wales, where both were university students. Shaw had noticed Wightman around town in his sarong and peacock feather earrings, describing him as distinctive and dandyish, sometimes wearing dresses on campus. At the time, Shaw was in another relationship, but a mutual friend introduced them, and they became housemates.
From housemates to partners
They bonded over dinner parties and late-night conversations about life and politics. Wightman once invited a member of the Black Panthers to stay at their house. After that year, Wightman moved to Lamb Island in Queensland, and they lost contact. In 2001, they reconnected at a May Day rally in Naarm (Melbourne). They attended a folk punk band Mutiny concert at the Tote hotel, and Shaw invited him to stay over. Shaw noted that many friends stayed in her bed for convenience, and they shared some intimacy that night, but she considered it casual.
The Woomera protest
They embarked on a road trip to protest at Woomera in the South Australian desert, where the Howard government had set up a detention centre for refugees. Shaw provided first aid for injured protesters, while Wightman helped set up the protest camp. On the first night, police arrived and began arresting people, leaving Shaw on edge and unable to sleep.
Over the days of the protest, they witnessed traumatic events, including detained refugees trying to escape through the fence. One incident involved a mother passing her child to Wightman through a small hole in the fence. These events took a deep emotional toll.
The moment of connection
After the protests, they got a hotel room together in Port Augusta. Shaw recalled: “We held each other and cried, comforting each other from the human trauma we had witnessed.” She felt that Wightman was her safe space where she could share release and catharsis. “I realised we didn’t just hold the same political values but could also provide each other with that deep level of emotional support. I’d never felt that way with anyone before.”
Life after the protest
More than 20 years later, they have lived in Darwin, travelled in Asia, and moved to Castlemaine. After their daughter Ksenya was born, parenting became all-consuming, and protesting took a back seat. Wightman works as a teacher, often in disadvantaged schools, while Shaw is a health promotion officer. Shaw noted that they are still making a positive impact for the community.
Shaw described Wightman as a great father who is willing to talk through parenting challenges. “He’s definitely not an alpha male – he doesn’t display that kind of toxic masculinity, though he can be a bit despondent at the state of the world. But we still have great fun together and I love his generous spirit and sense of adventure. And when I’m with him, he’s still my safe space.”
