‘I don’t know how I’ll live with the loss’: Katie Allen’s husband leads tributes at packed memorial

The scale of the gathering to publicly farewell Katie Allen was reflective not just of the jobs she held, but the impact of her life and the communities it touched.

It was standing room only in the cavernous St Paul’s Cathedral in Melbourne on Thursday to remember Allen – a doctor, medical researcher and parliamentarian, whose proudest role was as a mum.

Her husband Malcolm and the couple’s children all spoke about the gravity of the loss of Allen who lived her life with meaning.

Allen died in December, two years after she was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma – a cancer of the bile ducts that is rare, aggressive and hard to treat.

A line snaked around the block near the cathedral and the event was declared full long before everyone made it inside, with mourners standing several deep along the walls and at the back.

They came from across Allen’s many worlds: family and friends, doctors and researchers, former parliamentary colleagues, university leaders, students and public servants.

Mourners were told that after the diagnosis, Allen began writing her memoirs. She wrote that the cancer had moved her into a different space in the world “one where I know my life is finite”.

She described the outpouring of love and support she received after revealing her cancer – which she’d initially kept a secret – and how it had made her feel like her life had been worth it.

Professor Kathryn North, director of the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, opened the tributes, reflecting on Allen’s extraordinary career in medicine and research. She described a woman “always seeking answers”, whose curiosity and drive propelled her from paediatrics into public health, research and policy.

North spoke of Allen raising young children while completing a PhD and producing research that helped millions of children and reshaped global understanding of food allergies.

As a medical researcher, she authored 423 peer-reviewed papers, supervised more than 30 PhD students — almost all women. Her work was cited 12 times more than the global average for other allergy researchers.

But it was Allen’s energy and humanity that resonated most deeply with those who worked alongside her. North described a woman who never claimed to be too busy, who gave people her full attention and who led by example.

“When she was asked if she was busy, she would just smile and say ‘not especially’ because it was unlikely she’d ever be less busy than at that moment, but she would just give that person her attention,” North said.

“When I think of Katie I think of light, of sparkle and colour. Her warm dazzling smile and that cheeky grin when she knew she was pushing you that little bit too much.

“Her bright pink lipstick … her passion for what was right. Katie was idealistic, driven and honest to a fault.”

Mourners were seated in groups from the different worlds she touched.

Former federal treasurers Peter Costello and Josh Frydenberg were joined by former Victorian premiers Jeff Kennett and Ted Baillieu.

Former chief medical officer Brendan Murphy, Monash University vice-chancellor Sharon Pickering were joined in the cathedral by businessmen Paul Little and Ahmed Fahour.

Former Liberal MP Mary Wooldridge, the chief executive of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, state Opposition Leader Jess Wilson and former federal MP Kelly O’Dwyer also attended the service.

Speaking at the memorial, former health minister Greg Hunt recalled first meeting Allen more than 25 years earlier when he shared an office with her husband.

Malcolm spoke so often of his wife, Hunt joked, that it became difficult to concentrate. When Hunt finally met her, he told Malcolm he was batting above his average.

“True — but then anyone would be,” Malcolm replied.

Hunt spoke of Allen’s empathy and resolve, recalling her role during the COVID-19 pandemic and her advocacy for Afghan women during the evacuation of Kabul after it fell to the Taliban in 2021. As time was running out, Allen contacted then immigration minister Alex Hawke in the early hours of the morning. Shortly afterwards, visas were granted.

“Katie took up their case. She would not rest,” he said.

“She stood up when it mattered.”

While the service united political foes in remembrance, there was an inevitable undertone, with federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley attending the service amid speculation about her leadership.

Moments before the service began, her potential successors, Angus Taylor and Andrew Hastie, made their way to their seats, walking down opposing sides of the cathedral.

It stood in contrast to Allen’s life, which was one of conviction not ambition.

Weeks before her death, Allen spoke to The Age, describing her kids as her “greatest story”.

Her four children — Monty, Jemima, Arabella and Archie — spoke of a mother who instilled fairness, empathy and purpose. Arabella described her mother as someone who lived deliberately.

“She lived with meaning. Heavy, strong, bold meaning,” she said.

“Idleness shivered at the sight of her.”

Jemima likened her mother to “a really concentrated lime cordial”.

“Even a small drop of mum would fill up your cup,” she said.

As Unforgettable, by Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole, filled the cathedral, images from Allen’s life appeared on the screen.

Her husband spoke of meeting her at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, sharing their first kiss beneath a tree, and recognising immediately her rare combination of intellect, energy and moral purpose.

He described their final months together as a “quiet golden time” — marked by graduations, becoming grandparents and time spent as a family.

“I do not yet know how I will live with this loss” he said.

“Thank you. Katie. Thank you for the life we shared.”

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