A Tasmanian Wilderness Night That Sparked a 40-Year Love Story
In the remote wilderness of Tasmania, a single night in a trapper's hut became the defining moment for a love that would endure for decades. Katherine Scholes, now a celebrated author, vividly recounts how a chance encounter with Roger, a filmmaker and artist, blossomed into a profound partnership that shaped her life and work.
An Unforgettable First Meeting
Katherine first met Roger in 1975 when she was just 16 years old. Returning home one afternoon, she found him having tea with her parents. Roger, then 25, had been living in an artist's community in Switzerland and was discussing plans to start a similar venture in Tasmania. Katherine's mother, a painter, and her father, a proactive figure, were captivated by his vision of buying a farm.
Roger's appearance was striking for country Tasmania. He wore worn-out Levi's jeans, Western boots, and a blue-grey suit jacket, with his blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail. Standing over six feet tall, he towered over Katherine. An enamelled brooch was pinned to his lapel, and a string of tiny turquoise beads adorned his wrist. "No one looked like this," Katherine recalls, noting how he stood out in the rural setting.
That night, she made a note in her diary, a small blue book she still possesses: "Today I have met the kind of man I would one day like to marry." At the time, Roger wasn't "the man" due to her youth and the age gap, but he left an indelible impression.
Years of Distance and Reconnection
In the following years, Katherine and Roger often crossed paths but never formed a relaxed friendship. Roger eventually returned to Europe, while Katherine began a relationship with a high school friend, which lasted several years before they parted ways. When Roger unexpectedly returned to Tasmania, he had rekindled his commitment to filmmaking after years as a sculptor and woodworker.
He invited Katherine, along with Steve from her share house, on a two-day hike into the wilderness. Roger was conducting location surveys for what would later become the Australian feature film The Tale of Ruby Rose. By this time, Katherine was 21 and Roger was 30, making the age difference seem less significant, but a gulf remained due to her awe of him.
Roger's knowledge of music, literature, and philosophy, combined with his quiet confidence and movie-star looks, made him widely admired. Many women desired him, and Katherine wondered if he saw her differently, though she wasn't certain. Roger had been single for years and appeared shy, adding to the mystery.
A Night of Transformation
As the first day of the hike unfolded, romantic prospects seemed dim. Roger focused on photographing locations for his film, often directing Katherine to move behind rocks, which left her feeling vaguely insulted despite understanding the trip's purpose. They spent the night in an old trapper's hut, intended as a film set, sleeping on a wooden platform with Katherine between the two men.
When night fell, flames danced in the fireplace, and Tasmanian devils scratched at the door. Steve soon fell asleep, but Katherine and Roger remained awake. The space between them felt charged with energy. As the fire burned down and darkness enveloped them, they exchanged brief words about warmth, but neither had much to say.
Katherine sensed the night could pass without change, feeling it was "now or never." Without a conscious decision, she recalls Roger's story that she suddenly rolled over on top of him. They began kissing, wrapped in each other's arms, though they didn't have sex or discuss the implications for the future. "It was the beginning of a love story that would last for 40 years," Katherine reflects.
A Lifelong Partnership and Legacy
Neither could have imagined the future that lay ahead: marriage, collaborative work on books and films, and raising two sons. That night in the trapper's hut changed everything, marking the start of a deep bond. Katherine and Roger spent most days side by side, creating dozens of projects together.
Tragically, Roger passed away in the winter of 2022 after a long struggle with ill health. Katherine acknowledges that grief can be a high price for love but asserts it was always worth it. Her memoir, One Night at Silver Lake, captures this poignant journey, offering a testament to enduring love and the power of a single moment in the wilderness.
