Toowoomba, St George woman Kylie Kilroy dies after long battle with lung condition following 2011 floods

Her home was devastated by the 2011 floods, she caught a terminal illness making it hard to breath, then she changed the laws and spotlighted the horrors of the aged care sector. Kylie Kilroy lived an extraordinary life, according to her son.

Kylie Kilroy has died after a long battle with illness. Picture: Kevin Farmer

A Toowoomba activist has been heralded as a community champion who helped change state legislation and highlighted systemic issues with the aged care sector, after passing away following a long health battle.

Kylie Kilroy died in January at just 56, having spent nearly a decade with heavily reduced lung capacity.

The former St George resident had contracted Nontuberculous Mycobacteria from moldy insulation while cleaning up her rural property following the 2011 floods.

Ms Kilroy’s property had been affected by flooding from the Balonne River during the 2010-12 disasters, which she said had been worsened by the construction of levee banks to benefit irrigation by cotton farmers.

Her son Ned said the family successfully forced changes to legislation that regulated maximum height limits for private levee banks.

“Mum did a bit of research into the allowances and height requirements and realised there wasn’t any requirements,” he said.

“The lawsuit case (against the cotton farmers) fell through, but she raised awareness with (former MP) Tony Windsor and Anna Bligh (and) in 2014-2015, new policy was made to ensure levee banks couldn’t be above a certain height.”

After moving into palliative care with the Toowoomba Hospital in late 2020 while her condition deteriorated, Ms Kilroy spotlighted what she said were poor conditions at the TriCare Toowoomba Aged Care Residence.

Kylie Kilroy in 2013. Photo David Barwell / Balonne Beacon

After complaining on social media about the food and care, she was moved out of the centre and eventually into her own home, hooked up to a portable oxygen tank and rationing her morphine.

Mr Kilroy said his mother was an activist to the end, who refused to let injustices go unpunished.

“My best description is a thorny rose – she was a loving person but she would hurt someone if they did her wrong,” he said.

“The amount of respect I have for her taking on the cotton farmers is unbelievable — she stood up for the town.

“She was very much an activist — her stubbornness was a virtue.”

Aged care resident moved after Twitter complaint about TriCare in Toowoomba, Queensland - Tonight I advise the passing of our Twitter friend Kylie Kilroy @qwadja on 21st Jan 2022.She was 56. Her fight & spirit will not be forgotten. https://t.co/3lUHzjxAc0

— LMS Domestic Violence #ItsNotOk🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦 (@mswarriorLMS) March 3, 2022

Ms Kilroy’s ashes were spread by her family on the banks of the Condamine River at Cecil Plains.

Ms Kilroy had developed a significant following on social media, with many associations and fellow activists praising her courage and strength of character.

“We will always honor her memory. A woman fighting against the odds, against corruption, against injustice. We hope you will join us in sending our condolences to her family and friends,” the Older Women’s Network NSW wrote earlier this month.