Horrible horrible news

[dread and might]

RIP. much respect for a man i never spoke to but saw often. the swan and his keeper we called him. what an institution. black armbands for sure.

[Foreign Legion]

Terrible news - not that I knew him well but occassionally used to have a quick word to him.

...at least in that photo of Cher's he looked happy...

R.I.P. Russell.

[swansrule100]

that awful my condolences to everyone who knew him and so on... very bad news

[Triple B]

I don't understand the politics behind what you can and cannot put on the banner, but a "RIP Russell" at the bottom of the banner is surely not too much to ask.

I often laugh at how seriously some here take themselves when they 'confront' the club over issues. I'm in the Bart camp when it comes to smiling at SSI and the like, but I'd have to say I would support anybody in the cheer squad who would say 'get stuffed', we are going to honour one of our own with a one-off small tribute.

BTW, who gave Russell a can of Melbourne Bitter for godsake. That stuff would kill a healthy man let alone a frail one!

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by swansrock4eva
Nothing else that can be said really. It appears that Denise was the last one to see him.

Unforntuately the club has said we can't put anything on the banner, but we are going to be wearing black armbands for him at the next game.

Ok, I'm very stirred up today, but my first reaction when I read this was a complete rage and indignation as to how and why they were bar us from tributing him on the banner. But I'm kinda irrational right now, so ranting about this and that will do no good for anyone. (Especially when people in high places read this message board.)

I hope the club DOES come to its senses and lets us give him the tribute he deserves on our Lions match banner. I have even thought of a heaps cool slogan for it.

"He passed away
on the road from Geelong
RIP Russell
the man with the Swan"

I hope we can somehow get information as to his funeral and whether we can keep his Swan on a stick as a momento to his life.

Will keep you all posted.

JF

[Cher]

Originally posted by janpa
Damn the cat mascot for stealing the Swan from Russell. Hope it didn't stress Russell - I guess it was in fun but still may have worried him.
Hope the Swans win all remaining games for you Russell.

I don't think 'half cat' upset him too much, while at the Barwon Club after the game the bar staff were looking after 'swan' behind the bar to keep it safe.

[Cher]

Originally posted by JF_Bay22_SCG


I hope we can somehow get information as to his funeral and whether we can keep his Swan on a stick as a momento to his life.
JF

I hope some of you guys can show the red and white at the funeral.

[Mike_B]

Originally posted by JF_Bay22_SCG
"He passed away
on the road from Geelong
RIP Russell
the man with the Swan"

I know this is me asking someone else to do work that I couldn't, but what about making a banner saying that to hold in the CS, so that if we can't get something on the run through banner, we still have a way of showing we care?

Would someone be willing to do that?

[Bart]

Originally posted by BBB
I often laugh at how seriously some here take themselves when they 'confront' the club over issues. I'm in the Bart camp when it comes to smiling at SSI and the like, but I'd have to say I would support anybody in the cheer squad who would say 'get stuffed', we are going to honour one of our own with a one-off small tribute.

The only thing I can think of why the club would say no to this is the huge number of requests they get for all kinds of tributes, proposals etc etc. You do it for one etc etc, but this old fella was pretty unique. surely wouldn't hurt.

Bart camp ? I can assure you BBB that I'm not

[DST]

Very sad news, had talked to Russell a couple of times in the carpark upon spotting the mounted Swan.

Don't know how old he was, but hopefully at least he got to see us win a premiership in his earlier days.

RIP Russell...................

DST

[swansrock4eva]

Jules,

Apparently it's a "we do it for one, we do it for all" attitude that the club doesn't want to promote.

Cath's already said we'll defintiely be doing black armbands, and I imagine we'll try to organise somthing about the Swan - I was thinking maybe mounting it to the Bay 22 sign as a tribute in footy season.

[j s]

Originally posted by DST
Very sad news, had talked to Russell a couple of times in the carpark upon spotting the mounted Swan.

Don't know how old he was, but hopefully at least he got to see us win a premiership in his earlier days.

RIP Russell...................

DST

He was 71. I asked him on Sat nite.

[Bart]

Originally posted by j s
He was 71. I asked him on Sat nite.

Born in 1932/33 then ?

[Triple B]

Apparently it's a "we do it for one, we do it for all" attitude that the club doesn't want to promote.

Considering the Cheer squad does all the bloody work, if they want to honour one of their own, I would TELL the club they intend doing it.

Whilst Julian's suggestion was very good, I would suggest just a small 'RIP Russell' underneath the main banner theme of the day would not be treading on toes.

[DST]

Originally posted by Bart
Born in 1932/33 then ?

A shame, while at least being born for our last premiership, never got to see us play in one.

God, I hope I can last for another 40 years to see one.

DST