The moment I knew: After witnessing trauma at a refugee detention centre, we held each other and cried

First Liza Shaw and Rohan were housemates, then they had a casual relationship. But a protest at Woomera would deepen their emotional connection Find more stories from the moment I knew series I met Rohan in 1998 in Lismore, New South Wales, where we were both going to university. Before that, I’d noticed him around town in his sarong and peacock feather earrings. He was distinctive and slightly dandyish, sometimes wearing dresses on campus. I had another partner at the time but our mutual friend introduced us, and Rohan and I became housemates. We bonded living together and hosting dinner parties, where we’d talk about life and politics well into the night. I was intrigued by his friends. One time Rohan invited a member of the Black Panthers to come and stay at our house. After that year in Lismore, Rohan went to live on Lamb Island in Queensland and we lost contact. Then in 2001 we reconnected at a May Day rally in Naarm. We went to see his friend’s folk punk band Mutiny playing at the Tote hotel and, because I was living nearby, I invited him to stay over. In those days lots of friends stayed in my bed, partly for convenience as I lived close to the party precinct. We did share