Volunteer firefighter Matthew Petch has been remembered for his contributions to the community following his death from a rare and aggressive cancer. Petch, a father of three, passed away after a prolonged battle with bile-duct cancer, which he was diagnosed with in 2024. His struggle to obtain workers’ compensation highlighted significant discrepancies in the protections afforded to paid firefighters compared to their volunteer counterparts.
On Sunday, the Kalamunda Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service announced the news of Petch’s passing on social media, expressing deep condolences to his family. “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of past colleague Matthew Nigel Petch,” the service stated. “Our deepest sympathy to all the family.”
Petch served with the Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service from 2016 until his diagnosis, responding to numerous incidents including fires and car crashes. His commitment to firefighting began even earlier, as he joined the Kalamunda Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade at just 17 years old, where he volunteered for three years in the early 2000s.
Despite undergoing extensive surgery, the cancer ultimately spread to his liver, which led him to seek costly treatment in the United States. Due to the lack of recognition of bile-duct cancer under Western Australia’s firefighter protection laws, Petch resorted to crowdfunding for his medical expenses. An appeal established by his brother, Jonathan Petch, successfully raised over $200,000 AUD to cover treatment costs.
Jonathan expressed the family’s profound sorrow, stating, “Our hearts are shattered” by the loss of their beloved Matthew. He remarked on his brother’s impact, saying, “He will be remembered for the kind, caring and respectful man we all had the privilege of knowing and loving. Matty made the world a better place.”
The Kalamunda Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade expressed its grief, calling Petch “the embodiment of what it means to be an upstanding member of our local community.” The statement on social media noted that he would be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Local Member of Parliament Adam Hort also paid tribute to Petch, describing the news as “truly devastating.” Hort emphasized Petch’s contributions, saying, “Matthew was a true gentleman and gave so much to our community. My thoughts are with Helen and their children, the broader Petch clan and our Kalamunda VFRS. You will never be forgotten mate.”
Petch’s advocacy for improved health protections for volunteer firefighters has drawn attention to the need for reform in worker safety laws. International studies have linked bile-duct cancer to prolonged exposure to toxic substances encountered during firefighting. Despite this evidence, it remains unrecognized among the 20 cancers eligible for automatic support under current legislation in Western Australia.
As the community reflects on Petch’s legacy, many are calling for changes to ensure that volunteer firefighters receive the protections they deserve, echoing his own fight for better health and welfare standards for all those who serve.
