Monica Smirk: Mum of Perth teen Amelia ‘Milli’ Lucas dies after devastating cancer battle

The mother of beloved Perth teenager Amelia “Milli” Lucas — who died of a rare brain cancer four years ago — has also lost her own devastating battle with the disease.

Monica Smirk was diagnosed with a terminal melanoma two years ago after being diagnosed with inoperable tumours on her back in 2022. It was her fourth cancer diagnosis.

The cruel blow comes four years after 14-year-old Milli died after a four-year battle with brain cancer in January 2021.

“With sadness in our hearts, we wish to let you know, Millie’s mum, the beautiful Monica came to rest in peace, 7 April 2025,” the announcement, posted online on Monday, said.

“This remarkable woman, with an insatiable quest for genuine love and kindness is now having one hell of a family reunion, dancing with her Milli, Blake, Beau, Wendy and Barry.

“Please allow Grant, Tess and Joel the space to sit in this immeasurable grief, as they honour their lifelong warrior, forever their greatest protector.”

When her tumour was deemed inoperable in 2019, Milli’s family raised $170,000 for high-profile neurosurgeon Charlie Teo to perform the surgery, which removed 98 per cent of her tumour.

Dr Teo’s surgical intervention helped Milli defy her diagnosis by years, but the neurosurgeon’s risky surgeries divided the nation.

Ms Smirk’s family suffers from Li-Fraumeni syndrome, a rare genetic condition which carries a lifetime risk of a wide variety of cancers.

She was forced to watch as the syndrome took the lives of her mother, brother, daughter, niece and nephew.

In 2023, Ms Smirk told The Sunday Times she knew she had lumps on her back while caring for Milli in 2021, but “couldn’t face” getting a biopsy amid the grief.