| By Nicole Ferrie
Bendigo's citizen of year: Russell Jack
WHEN Russell Jack finds out who nominated him for the City of Greater Bendigo’s citizen of the year, he is likely to kick them in the shins.
“I’m a bit embarrassed,” he said.
“I believe there are a lot more worthy recipients than me ... such as somebody who is caring for a sick person 24 hours a day.”
Few could argue, however, that Russell is not a worthy recipient of such an honour.
Russell has spent much of his 73 years promoting his three great loves – Chinese culture and heritage, his home town of Bendigo and his local community.
He has been heavily involved in charity work, the Bendigo Easter Festival and the promotion of the Bendigo Chinese Association, of which he has been president since 1980.
Russell was instrumental in the development, construction and operation of the award winning Golden Dragon Museum and Chinese Gardens and has been a director of the museum since 1992.
Russell’s other awards and achievements include the Australian Courvoisier Award of Excellence in the field of community, charity and welfare in 1992, an AM in the 1993 Queen’s Birthday Honours in recognition of the preservation of Bendigo’s Chinese heritage, a Paul Harris Fellowship from Rotary International in 1996 and Life Governor of the Bendigo Hospital and Anne Caudle Centre in 1997.
Russell was also named Victorian Senior of the Year in 1998, received the Recognition Award from Museums Australia for the Golden Dragon Museum in 1999 and received the Tattersall’s Achievement Award in 1999.
He also received the Australian Chinese Achievers Award in the Field of Community, Charity and Welfare in 1999 and was awarded Life Membership of the Bendigo Chinese Association in 2004.
Russell is a patron of Relay for Life Bendigo Chapter in 2007/2008 and carried the Olympic torch in both 1956 and 2000.
Despite such a long list of accolades, Russell’s contribution to the community is driven by a passion for his home town rather than the recognition that comes with getting things done.
“I love Bendigo with a passion,” he said.
“I don’t care what I do or how hard I work to make Bendigo a better place.
“I don’t do anything for awards, it’s not my style.
“Not a day goes by that I don’t think how fortunate I was to be born in Bendigo.
“Where I could go to school, work, play sport ... where you look up at the sky and you see a blue sky.
“I have an obligation to give something back ... you get more pleasure in giving something back.”
City of Greater Bendigo mayor David Jones said Russell’s list of achievements is nothing short of remarkable.
“When Russell sets his sights on something there is no stopping him and he is currently working on a major project to extend the Golden Dragon Museum and complete the Bendigo Chinese precinct,” he said.
“He is a public leader, a community spokesperson, business entrepreneur and a family man and it is my great pleasure to name him the citizen of the year for 2008.”
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