- Published:
- Friday 21 August 2026
A State Funeral Service to honour the life of Russell Goldfield Jack AM will be held at 11am on Saturday, 29 August at Ulumbarra Theatre in Bendigo.
Russell will be remembered as one of Bendigo’s most beloved and remarkable community leaders.
Russell’s vision and hard work helped breathe new life into the Bendigo Chinese Association (BCA) and the Bendigo Easter Festival, including fundraising to replace the iconic procession dragon.
Together with his late wife Joan, he founded the Golden Dragon Museum in 1991 as a place to share and celebrate the stories, treasures and traditions of the Chinese community in Bendigo.
Following years of tireless work, the Golden Dragon Museum is a much-loved cultural institution, attracting more than 80,000 visitors to Bendigo every year. It is home to the world’s longest imperial dragon - Dai Gum Loong - as well as the world’s oldest imperial dragon, Loong.
For 32 years, Russell guided the BCA as president, a role he embraced with warmth and generosity.
He remained closely involved in the Easter Festival, including in 2026, leading the procession of Dai Gum Loong throughout the city.
Russell’s decades of service were honoured when he was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in 1993 and named Victorian Senior Citizen of the Year in 1998.
Russell’s legacy lives on within a grateful community that will treasure the contributions he made throughout his life.
The funeral will be open to the public and live streamed online.
Details about the service, including how to attend or view the live stream, can be found at https://www.vic.gov.au/Russell-Jack.
Quotes attributable to Premier Ben Carroll
“Russell loved Bendigo and Bendigo loved him.”
“Over Russell’s lifetime of service, he built an enduring legacy for his community and our state.”
“My thoughts and deepest sympathies are with his family at this difficult time.”