‘Everyone loved Timika’: Anger and grief at young mum’s death

Up to 250 mourners have said their final bedside goodbyes to a young Queensland woman whose life support was turned off this week.

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

Up to 250 mourners have said their final bedside goodbyes to a young woman whose life support was turned off this week after the heartbroken young mum made the tragic decision to end her own life.

Twenty-six-year-old mother of four, Timika Allen, died at Cairns Hospital on Tuesday surrounded by family and loved ones after sustaining a fatal self-inflicted injury on Sunday.

Described as a person everyone knew and loved, the family said she would be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Timika Allen’s life support was turned off this week. Picture: Supplied

A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family of Timika Allen with funeral costs. Picture: Supplied

Ms Allen’s biological grandmother Shirley Tognola described her granddaughter as a beautiful soul who was known for being a loud, proud and an honest young woman.

“There were 250 people at the hospital on Tuesday, we kept her alive long enough so everyone could see her,” she said.

“She was loved, everyone loved Timika.”

Though overwhelmed by a deep sense of loss, Ms Tognola said there was also much anger simmering within the indigenous community surrounding events that led up to the death.

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.

Timika Allen was 23-years-old. Picture: Supplied

“You have a lot of angry people in Cairns right now, they have no idea of the worm they have unleashed,” Ms Tognola said.

On Tuesday family member Ruby Knuth started a crowd-funding campaign to help give Ms Allen the send off she deserves.

“We are reaching out to our community for support in honouring Timika’s memory,” the GoFundMe page states.

“I would love to help with raising funds to ease the financial burden of funeral expenses for the family during this already challenging time.

“The family wants to give Timika the dignified and heartfelt send-off she deserves.”

 

The GoFundMe states funds raised will go towards such as funeral service, burial, memorial arrangements and any money remaining will go towards setting up trust funds for her children.

The government department implicated in the death of Ms Allen released a statement to the Cairns Post however declined to respond to detailed questions about the case due to an act of parliament prohibiting commenting on individual cases.

“The death of this young woman is devastating, and our deepest condolences go out to her family members and friends,” the spokeswoman said.

Originally published as ‘Everyone loved Timika’: Anger and grief at young mum’s death