Anna's Eulogy

Eulogy for Alec

I’m Alec’s big sister, and David is his oldest little brother. Alec is our second sibling to die. It was so unexpected we are still coming to terms with it. As a family, we have loved and looked out for Alec, learned from him and recognised the unique person he was. But I want to acknowledge today the many people outside his family who were such an important part of his life.
Nothing is more unique about Al than his goodness, gentleness and respect - and the way he brought this out in others. He has had more mentors and good friends than anyone I know. You may not know all of them because they are very diverse - and some are whole communities, like the congregation of this church. My apologies for omissions – you get your chance to speak in the hall later. It became obvious that Al had special needs from about 18 months. He began to withdraw into his own world. He didn’t speak. It took years to discover he wasn’t actually deaf. Medical advice at the time both here and overseas was that nothing could be done and he should be put in an institution.
So my first acknowledgement is to our Dad who was determined to back his son despite the doctors’ advice. Al was around 18 when I first heard a doctor mention autism. Dad backed Cath McCarthy, who performed the miracle you see in the photo on the front of the order of service – an open-hearted son who knew and loved his father, and who at the age of 12, wrote his own future (on the back of the order of service)- and then made it come true. Cath McCarthy was a woman of faith, love and hope – and extraordinary gifts of communication and treatment. She proved the doctors wrong. They acknowledged it - but showed no interest in her methods of treatment. I still feel astonished and angry about that reaction.
Now early intervention programs are a standard treatment - but some parents of autistic children still struggle to find and pay for them, even with the NDIS. So Al was one of the lucky ones back then, having dedicated parents with resources, a skilled teacher and mainstream schooling. His friends John Hegarty and Jeremy Healy were among his defenders in the school yard at De La Salle and have remained friends ever since. Dad was a flying instructor in the war. He always said Al had good hands on a plane, “gentle like a stockman” and encouraged Al to practice. He found Frank Woodfall who schooled Al to get his private pilot’s licence. This huge achievement enabled Al to have a career as the Russell Pastoral Company pilot, and thus a central role in the family business. He went on to get an instrument rating for night flying.
Dad died when Al was just 30 and two marvellous mentors stepped in. The first was Dick Condon, who took over management of the family business, and became a devoted father-figure to Al over many years. Calm, wise and thoughtful – a very good man. His wife Marj was a lifelong friend to Al and his I’m so happy that family connection has continued with their grand-daughter Kate who is here today with her family.

Al flew with Dick as the company pilot for many years. He already knew many of the managers from when he jackarooed after school. Robert Morrish was one of these. Al became close to his family and they were in regular contact for the rest of Al’s life. Dick Condon died many years ago now and Al has been lucky to find a wise financial/ life advisor and caring friend in Richard McGruther.
Al’s second major mentor was Barry Hempel, a very experienced pilot who ran a flying school at Archerfield. He welcomed Al into his extended family - first Margaret, his former wife and business partner, and later his wife Melanie and their children Natalie and Aaron. Al went on regular holidays with Barry and his family including to the Philippines, north Queensland and central Australia. The most spectacular was when Barry included Al in a team of pilots to fly an Antinov from Poland.
Barry died in a plane accident but Al remained very close to the Hempel family and watched Natalie and Aaron grow up, mostly through visits to Margaret Hempel. The day he died, Al was about to drive down to have Christmas with Margaret and her family and friends. I’m glad that Margaret and other members of her family could be here today. Dad knew members of the gliders club at McCaffreys Field from back in WW2. He introduced Al to them and he flew regularly for the rest of his life. I remember my earlier visits with Al, sitting around in the pie cart, him reaching to respond to radio messages – completely part of the team.
Al’s life in the Dalby community and beyond has been a tribute both to him, and the large number of people who have cared for and respected him. That’s something we can be really proud of. It shows the goodness both of Al himself and of his community. There’s the Dalby congregation. First I heard from Al was about the men’s group at the church. I did not get any details of that secret men’s business - and neither I should – but I was impressed! It grew into Al becoming a member of the congregation enjoying the excellent morning teas and always, I’m told, helping with the wiping up afterwards. More locally, he was a regular with Kate and Annette at Pips n Cherries in Bell. Visiting Dalby with Al, you find he’s introducing you so many of his friends like Brooksie as you go down the street.
Then there’s the Jimbour Crew, which is code for Al’s dedicated support group at Jimbour. For me the Jimbour Crew started with Jock and Irene Lewis back in the 60s. This was when Al moved back to Jimbour from jackarooing out west. They defended and unconditionally accepted him through the hard work of becoming an adult.
Gino Sandrin worked on Jimbour house with Al for many years. For Al he was always “Gino the Italian plasterer”. You’ll see a couple of lovely slides of those times. After Dad died, Gino found Al a role as an apprentice in the restoration of the house. He gave Al a certificate for all the skills he learned, which has kept pride of place in Al’s bedroom ever since. James and Elizabeth Sages, Bob Burwood and Tony Madigan have been great friends. Beer o’clock with Tony was the highlight of Al’s day for many years. If Butze Costales came on a painting job, it was the first thing Al would tell me on the phone. Butze is currently overseas, but we’re glad that his partner Lisa could make it today.

A constant through that time has been Karl Graham and more recently Sandra Hanson, both very kind, astute and sensitive to Al’s needs. In their complementary ways, they have truely loved and cared for him.
Smokos – and gardening - would not be the same for Al without the Jimbour Gardens crew. He’s one of the crew on their Jimbour Gardens FB page, introduced by them as A word from Alec Russell, Pack Controller. Al wrote
If I get a chance I like mowing the airstrip. Also dead heading the cannas and the daisies. I like XXXX gold, but best of all I enjoy our smokos. Come and ask me about the history if you see me in the garden.
Pack Controller - a good description of Al’s role in our family. Of all his siblings, Al had a unique combination of roles - from getting his hands dirty in the Jimbour Gardens or the stockyards to the bird’s eye view he had of the Russell properties in his role as pilot, and as the custodian of Jimbour House.
Al has made an enormous contribution to the family legacy.
More than this, Al is the heart of this family and our concerns. He made his life in the community of friends and family gathered here today, and I know he opened his heart to you as you welcomed him with respect and affection.
Thank you Al for all you have achieved, and for how you have brought out the best in people all your life.