Vale Simon Lund, ASU life member and CFA hero

12 May 2025

It is with great sadness that the ASU advises of the passing of our delegate, member, and friend, Simon Lund.

Simon was an enormous figure at the Country Fire Authority. He established our union sub-group for CFA members, and served as vice-president and acting president of the Gippsland Trades and Labour Council.

He led the charge in enterprise bargaining at CFA, as well as numerous other campaigns. Simon’s mantra as a delegate was ‘Respect & Recognition’. He has made it his mission to fight for respect & recognition for this often-overlooked cohort of workers.

Simon started as a volunteer firefighter with the CFA in 1998, and spent the last 25 years as a CFA employee, working as a senior technical field officer. He worked at many major incidents, including the Black Saturday and Black Summer bushfires, as well as the Hazlewood Mine fire.

Since being diagnosed with oesophageal cancer because of his work at CFA, Simon has led the campaign to have CFA PTA staff covered by the Presumptive Rights legislation. As recently as three days ago, Simon was on the phone to the union from hospital talking about the campaign, and urging us to continue his fight.

Please sign our petition to help us continue Simon's fight.

On May Day this year, Simon was awarded life membership of the ASU by branch secretary Tash Wark, at a small ceremony at his home including family and friends, and Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Services Sheena Watt MP.

The entire ASU family mourns his loss, and our thoughts go out to Tracie and his family, and all his CFA colleagues at this incredibly sad time.