Death of Cairns mum Timika Allen sparks angry protest in Cairns

An emotionally-charged demonstration that laid siege to a Cairns office building has called for an open inquiry into a government department implicated in the death of a well-known mum, who took her own life.

Timika Allen’s mother Sophia McGreen with fellow protesters on Lake St following the death of the 26-year-old in August. Picture: Pete Carruthers

An emotionally-charged demonstration that laid siege to a Cairns office building has called for an open inquiry into a government department implicated in the death of a well-known mum, who took her own life.

A mother of four, 26-year-old Timika Allen died at Cairns Hospital surrounded by family and loved ones after sustaining a fatal self-inflicted injury on August 19.

On Friday morning a crowd of about 50 relatives and friends camped outside government offices in the Cairns CBD demanding a “fix to the broken system” and chanting “what do we want: Justice. When do we want it? Now.”

The angry group climbed up and held banners in the windows of the office building and marched up Lake St to the tooting support of passing motorists.

Protesters marched down Lake St on Friday in protest of action by a state government department. Picture: Peter Carruthers

Workers inside the building locked the doors and withdrew inside as the vocal mob formed a blockade outside the office.

For legal reasons the Cairns Post cannot reveal exact claims made by the family, however it’s understood Ms Allen was locked in a dispute with the Cairns office of a state government department.

Ms Allen’s mother Sophia McGreen, speaking from a footpath during the protest, expressed her frustration at a claimed failure of the system to provide information about department actions leading up to her daughter’s death.

Cairns mother of four Timika Allen has been remembered as vibrant and energetic young woman after taking her own life on Sunday, August 18. Picture: Supplied

“What they wanted her to do she had already done, and that’s what we were trying to argue against,” she said.

Nathan Lyons discovered the lifeless body of his niece.

She was rushed to hospital and placed on life support before hundreds of mourners came to say their final bedside goodbyes.

The machines were turned off on August 21.

Timika Allen's mother Sophia McGreen at a demonstration on Lake St on Friday morning. Picture: Pete Carruthers

Angry at the department implicated in the death of Ms Allen, Mr Lyons claimed a second generation of children was being “stolen” from their families.

“They’re stealing kids and keeping the stolen generation going,” he said.

“But the government’s got the system going on, it’s a broken system, it’s not fixing anything, it’s making everything worse.”

Amber Elliot took part in the demonstration after lengthy dealing with the government department 15 years ago.

What she went through left her distraught and heartbroken.

“It’s a very raw situation for parents,” she said.

“When you’re in it and you’re going through that rawness, families can’t talk and it’s a breach of a family’s basic human rights.

Timika Allen’s biological grandmother Shirley Tognola led the protest involving up to 60 people on Friday. Picture: Peter Carruthers

“No one has the right to interfere with a family.”

A deep sense of loss and anger simmering within the Indigenous community after the death of the greatly-loved 26-year-old appears to have not dissipated and was expressed with passion during confronting scenes on Friday in the CBD.

Due to confidentiality obligations and privacy laws, the government department implicated in the death of Ms Allen declined to address claims made by protesters.

“Our deepest condolences go out to Timika’s family members and friends who are grieving her death,” a spokeswoman said.

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Originally published as Death of Cairns mum Timika Allen sparks angry protest in Cairns