Bendigo has lost one of its great custodians of history, culture and community with the passing of Russell Jack AM.

Russell devoted much of his life to preserving, celebrating and sharing the history and traditions of Bendigo’s Chinese community.

As President of the Bendigo Chinese Association for more than 3 decades and founder of the Golden Dragon Museum, his contribution to our city was enormous. He understood the importance of preserving Bendigo’s Chinese history and ensuring it was passed from one generation to the next. The Golden Dragon Museum stands as a testament to that vision—an extraordinary centre for culture, education and tourism, and the custodian of a collection of national significance.

He also worked tirelessly to ensure Bendigo’s magnificent Imperial Dragons and Chinese traditions remained a living part of our community. From Loong and Sun Loong to the arrival of Dai Gum Loong, and the spectacular Chinese procession that remains at the heart of the Bendigo Easter Festival, these traditions have become inseparable from the story and identity of our city.

Russell’s vision also made an enduring contribution to Bendigo’s standing as one of Australia’s great cultural tourism destinations. The Golden Dragon Museum and our remarkable Chinese heritage precinct have become an important part of a broader cultural offering—from our renowned arts and heritage institutions to the Great Stupa—that draws visitors from across Australia and around the world. Together, they strengthen our local economy while sharing the rich and distinctive stories that make Bendigo such a remarkable place to visit.

Russell’s story was also a deeply Australian one. Born in Australia, he worked hard, raised his family and devoted a lifetime to serving his community. Named Victorian Senior Citizen of the Year in 1998, he also carried the Olympic torch through Bendigo in both 1956 and 2000—two moments, generations apart, that speak to the esteem in which he was held.

Russell was one of the first people I met with after I was elected as the Member for Bendigo West. Even then, his passion and determination were unmistakable, as was his ambition for the future of the Golden Dragon Museum and the preservation of Bendigo’s Chinese heritage.

Over the years, I have been immensely proud to work alongside Russell, the Bendigo Chinese Association and the Golden Dragon Museum family, supporting that vision and helping secure investment in the Museum, the Chinese precinct and Dai Gum Loong.

It has been a privilege to see that vision continue to grow, with plans now                  underway to establish the National Chinese Museum of Australia here in Bendigo.

Russell’s contribution, however, cannot be measured by a museum, a collection or a procession alone.

Through decades of service, he helped generations of Bendigonians better understand our shared history and the profound contribution Chinese Australians have made to our city and our nation. He strengthened the bonds between Bendigo’s Chinese and broader communities, bringing people together through a shared pride in the history and traditions that make our city unique.

That is an extraordinary legacy, and one that will endure for generations.

My sincere condolences to Russell’s children David and Anita, his family and friends, the Bendigo Chinese Association, the Golden Dragon Museum community and all those who knew and respected him.

Vale Russell Jack AM.

Bendigo is immeasurably richer for his life and his service.