Kylie Monaghan’s legacy lives on as assisted dying passes – The Recorder

HAPPIER TIMES: Shirley Church and Kylie Monaghan photographed together on Kylie's wedding day. Photo supplied.

When a voluntary assisted dying bill was passed in parliament earlier this month, it fulfilled the dying wishes of local women Kylie Monaghan, a key advocate in the movement.

Kylie was the face of the 'Be the Bill' euthanasia advocacy campaign when similar laws were put up in South Australian Parliament in 2016.

At just 29 years old, Kylie was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer and she died before seeing the latest Bill pass parliament.

Kylie's mum Shirley Church says that she would have been happy and relieved that the bill finally received a "yes" in parliament earlier this month.

"She would have been pleased," she said.

"Pleased that everyone has done what they can for the campaign, and pleased to know since 2016 there have been a lot of politicians who have changed their minds.

"Pleased because it has been passed, knowing that it is going to be in place hopefully soon for people who really do need it.

"And mainly that politicians out there have had a change of heart. The number of politicians who supported it this time around was brilliant.

"I think they have realised that this change is needed in South Australia."

Ms Church would like to think that Kylie's contribution to the cause helped changed the minds of people and politicians in the state.

When the previous Bill was defeated in 2016 by only one vote, it was a rough time for the family, but the community showed its support.

"Even after 2016 when it was lost by one vote, after we got back to Port Pirie, I had people coming up and saying to me, 'that's terrible to lose by one vote'," said Ms Church.

"They would just talk to me out of the blue about it."

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Kylie Monaghan's legacy lives on as assisted dying passes - The Recorder