In Memoriam: Tilly Houghton

Issue 0, Volume 18

DUNCAN WILLIS AND JANELLE KOH

On 29 June 2020, we lost Tilly Houghton. 

Tilly was an ex-MLS student, and she was also so much more. She was a passionate activist who pounded the pavement for many causes; disability rights, refugee rights, indigenous rights, LGBTIQ+ rights, and mental health, just to name a few. More than an activist, she was an advocate for the rights of others. She loved the law, and believed deeply in the law’s potential to redress injustices (with a healthy dose of cynicism, of course). Throughout her life, she attempted to address those injustices in innumerable ways. Lucky for us, writing was one of them. 

During Tilly’s time at MLS,  she was a prolific writer for De Minimis. In memory of Tilly’s contributions to this paper and to the wider law school community, we have published this special edition of her work.

​This collection of pieces highlights some of Tilly’s qualities that will be most sorely missed. Her keen critical eye that questioned everything; her willingness to confront the hard issues or call out injustices (including those perpetrated by this paper); her exceptional sense of humour; and the way she wore her heart on her sleeve and made no apologies for it. 

In this collection we have also included what we understand to be Tilly’s last published piece, ‘My Feelings are Orchestral’. This essay is a piece about Tilly’s mental illness and her struggles with attempted suicide, but more than that, it was a story about a girl whose feelings were an ocean. Yes, there was grief, pain, and trauma, but there was also music, family, beauty and love. She did not lose sight of any of it, and neither should we. 

While Tilly may no longer be with us, she and the impact she had on the people who came into her life will never be forgotten.  We love you, Tilly - rest in peace. 

Duncan and Janelle are ex-MLS students and were the 2018 Editor-In-Chief and Managing Editor of De Minimis.

Please see the attached file for the full edition and collection of Tilly's pieces.

in_memoriam_tilly_houghton_special_edition.pdf
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