Simon's maternal grandmother had the European name, Susan Russell. She also had the Aboriginal name, 'Kundaibark', which meant 'The wild apple tree', as she was born under a wild apple tree. She was from the Opossum clan of the Biripi nation; and her father was Irish. She was abandoned by her tribe as an infant after her mother died because of her lighter skin. She was found by stockmen and was brought up by station people. Simon's maternal grandmother returned to the Biripi nation when she became of age and raised Simon. In 1912, Simon's maternal grandfather died.
