Patrick Simon (politician)

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Patrick Simon
Mayor of Villers-Bretonneux
In office
2008 – 13 May 2020
Preceded byHubert Lelieur
Succeeded byDidier Dinouard
Personal details
Born12 June 1955
Sedan, France
Died13 May 2020 (age 64)
Amiens, France
SpouseCatherine Simon
ProfessionDentist
Politician

Patrick Simon,

state of Victoria and Victorians helped to rebuild the village.[1] Simon became a major supporter of relations between France, Villers-Bretonneux, and Australia during his twelve-year tenure as mayor. Mayor Simon oversaw the renovations of the Franco-Australian First World War Museum in Villers-Bretonneux, helped to establish the Sir John Monash Centre in France in 2018, and presided over Villers-Bretonneux's annual Anzac Day commemoration for twelve years.[1][2]

Simon was awarded an honorary

AUD from Villers-Bretonneux's residents and school students by the end of February 2020.[1][3][4]

Biography

Simon was a dentist by profession.[3] His political career spanned more than 37 years.[5][4] He first served as a municipal councilor for two terms and then two more terms as deputy.[3] In 2008, Simon was elected Mayor of Villers-Bretonneux to succeed outgoing Mayor Hubert Lelieur.[5][3] Simon was re-elected to a second term in 2014.[3] He was reportedly reluctant to seek a third mayoral term in 2020, but ultimately decided to run for another term after his retirement from dentistry in 2019.[3] He came in third place in the first round of the Villers-Bretonneux mayoral election on March 15, 2020.[3] Simon continued to serve as mayor until his death in office from COVID-19 in May 2020.[3][5]

In 2015, Simon was awarded the honorary Officer of the

Edouard Philippe and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to Villers-Bretonneux for the grand opening of the Sir John Monash Centre, which was dedicated to the Australian military and its soldiers during World War I.[4]

Dr. Patrick Simon contracted

intensive care for more than fifty days.[1][5] He was initially admitted to a hospital in Rang-du-Fliers, but was transferred to CHU d'Amiens hospital in Amiens.[4] Simon's condition initially stabilized in April, but rapidly deteriorated in May 2020.[5][3]

Patrick Simon died at CHU d'Amiens hospital in Amiens on 13 May 2020, at the age of 63 following a seven-week illness with COVID-19.[1][2][5][3][4]

The

Victoria, which is twinned with Villers-Bretonneux, paid tribute to Simon, saying, "We extend our condolences to Mr Simon's family, friends, the Villers-Bretonneux community, and the Robinvale-Villers Bretonneux Association members during this sad time."[6] Robinvale was named after Lieutenant Robin Cuttle, who was killed in action in Caix during the Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux in 1918.[1] Simon had visited Robinvale several times, most recently in October 2019, and developed close personal and professional relationships with the town's leaders.[1]

The

ANZAC."[5]

References

  1. ^
    Sydney Morning Herald
    . Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Tribute to Villers-Bretonneux mayor Patrick Simon". France.fr. 6 July 2020. Archived from the original on 29 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Le maire de Villers-Bretonneux Patrick Simon est décédé du Covid-19". Le Courrier Picard. 13 May 2020. Archived from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e Lamarre, Vanessa (13 May 2020). "Coronavirus : décès de Patrick Simon maire de Villers-Bretonneux dans la Somme". France Bleu. Archived from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Coronavirus: Patrick Simon, le maire de Villers-Bretonneux, est décédé". France 3 Nord Pas-de-Calais Picardie. 14 May 2020. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  6. ^ Testa, Christopher (14 May 2020). "Villers-Bretonneux mayor Patrick Simon remembered by rural Victorian town". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
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