Obituaries Australia

The death occurred at his home in Avoca st, South Yarra, on Tuesday of Mr Edwin Robey Russell, chairman of the Edward Wilson Partnership in The Argus Charity Trust, which has donated more than £1 million to Victorian charities, and a former Victorian manager and inspector of the Bank of New South Wales. He was 79.

Mr Russell was a member of the Edward Wilson Trust for 22 years, and in that time directed contributions from the trust to the advantage of many hospitals and institutions.

Before his retirement from the Bank of New South Wales in 1936 he was regarded as one of the most capable men in the Victorian financial sphere.

Born and educated in Sydney, he joined the Bank of NSW there as a junior in 1888. A year later he transferred to Melbourne. Before he was appointed manager in Melbourne in 1925 he was acting manager in Tasmania and South Australia. Subsequently he became Victorian inspector, the post he held until he retired.

Mr Russell was for 40 years a prominent member of Royal Melbourne Golf Club and an ex-president and foundation member of Peninsula Golf Club, Frankston. He was an ex-president of the Australian Club and a member of the Melbourne Club.

He is survived by a widow, four sons, and two daughters. The funeral yesterday was private.