Tassie’s own superman

Neil Francis Cassidy Tasmanian Superman 14/10/1955 – 15/08/2020

IN paying tribute to the founding chief executive officer of Tasplan Neil Cassidy, who recently passed away, former Tasmanian premier Paul Lennon said without Neil’s early leadership at the organisation he doubts the fund could have grown to the powerhouse it now is.

Mr Cassidy was the eldest of seven children, born and educated in Edenhope in country Victoria.

In 1972 he moved to Melbourne and in 1975 he was married to Lynne with two sons subsequently arriving. In 1987 Neil moved to Tasmania as general manager of Nexus — the administrator of the fledgling superannuation fund Tasplan.

Tasplan was set up as a joint initiative of the Tasmanian Trades and Labour Council and the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) in response to the creation of compulsory superannuation by the

Hawke/Keating governments.

Mr Lennon was joined by former Tasmanian Industrial Commission vice-president and CEO of the TCCI Tim Abey as founding members of the Tasplan board, and jointly said the appointment of Neil Cassidy as the fund’s chief executive officer was one of the most significant decisions ever made by the board.

“Neil helped to develop the culture of Tasplan. He provided the energy and critical expertise the fund needed, particularly where hard decisions and hard work was required. The interests of members were Neil’s number one priority,” Mr Lennon and Mr Abey said.

“Neil was highly respected within the broad superannuation industry and eventually acquired the fitting nickname, ‘Tasmanian Superman’.

“Neil guided the fund through mergers with the NSW Bus and Coach and Transecure Funds and Quadrant Super in 2015.”

Neil was also a passionate Collingwood supporter and former captain of the Brighton Cricket Club where a young Shane Warne played for a season.

Neil is survived by his wife Lynne and sons Brett and Glen and their families.

Doug Fry, who served as board chairman of Tasplan for 20 years expressed in his tribute: “All who worked with Neil Cassidy knew that he not only made an outstanding contribution to the success of Tasplan, but he was a ‘good bloke’.”