Obituaries Australia

William Russell, n.d.

Daily Telegraph (Sydney), 23 August 1915, p 9

Mr. William John Russell, who died a few days ago, as the result of an accident at Pyrmont, was a prominent Laborite and union official. Born at Smithtown 36 years ago, he was educated at the local public school and at the Sydney High School, and for the past 13 years had been in the employ of the City Council. Prominent in Labor and union circles, he was for five years president of the Parkes Federal Labor Council and occupied the presidential chair of the N.S.W. branch of the Plumbers' Union for a term. He was also prominent in local public matters and, besides having formed the Canterbury Friendly Societies' Association, founded the Ratepayers' Association. Mr. Russell was probably best known as the Labor opponent of Mr. Bruce Smith at the 1913 and 1914 Federal elections. At the last meeting of the Sydney Labor Council appreciative references were made to his services and a vote of condolence was passed to his widow and four children.