A large crowd has paid tribute to a Bendigo man who always put others before himself.
Saturday, August 29th saw the state funeral being held for Russell Jack at the Ulumbarra Theatre with hundreds of mourners and well-wishers in attendance.
The service was preceded by a traditional Chinese mourning ritual, with a white lion accompanying Mr Jack’s coffin to the Golden Dragon Museum and Bendigo Chinese Association clubrooms, alongside family members and close friends.
All were then transported via motorcade from McCrae St to the Theatre on Gaol Rd for the memorial service.
One of those who spoke was Member for Bendigo East and former Premier Jacinta Allan, who described Mr Jack as “one of Bendigo and Victoria’s greatest.”
“Russell was such a proud Chinese-Australian – he lived and breathed his culture,” Ms Allan said.
“And it is thanks to Russell, that right here in Bendigo, we are home to a living record of the contribution Chinese-Australians have made to Bendigo, but also too, to our nation.”
Jack family member and son-in-law Dr Daniel Beck followed, who spoke of Russell’s early years; the tragic death of his son, David in 1985; and his “familial generosity” in helping those less fortunate.
Richard Louey also took to the stage, sharing messages of sympathy from prominent Chinese-Australian organisations across the country, and discussing his decades-long friendship with Mr Jack that formed through the Bendigo Easter Fair.
“As you can imagine, for myself growing up in the 70s and 80s, there were not a lot of Chinese people about, and we were easy targets for the single-minded,” Mr Louey told the crowd.
“Uncle Russell would always remind me never to forget who I was, and to be proud of my heritage.
“He gave me incredible moral strength during a period when there were few true heroes about.”
Other speakers at the event included current president of the Bendigo Chinese Association, Doug Lougoon; Mr Jack’s daughter Anita, and his grand-daughters Stellina and Amelita.
The ceremony was capped by a performance of “The Pomelo Tree”, sung as an acapella duet by Fay White and Lei Fong Low, before Mr Jack’s coffin was escorted from the Theatre and taken to its final resting place at the Bendigo Lawn Cemetery.
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