Horrible horrible news

[bigdaz]

RIP Russell

I was absolutely stunned when I opened this thread. Tragic news indeed. I didn't know Russell all that well but had spoken to him once or twice and have even been tapped on the back of head(accidentally, of course) with the famous Swan on a stick. mmy deepest sympathy to hais family & friends. I will defintely be sporting a black armband at the lions game.

Farewell to a truly loyal Swan.
You will be missed but certainly not forgotton.

Darrell Foxley

[anniswan]

Originally posted by Bart
Club's mention of Russell. This is in the latest email from the club

This is strange, I didn't get this email, maybe it was only Sydney members who got it.

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by Old Royboy
The whereabouts of his bag and the Swan was unknown, the police rang me because they were looking for them and to ask if I knew his motel in Geelong. They presumed his stuff would be there or in a luggage locker at Spencer Street. Russell had his train ticket home in his pocket.

Do you think that it would be worth engaging in a public campaign to try and get it back? That Swan is the realm of SCG legend; we just have to get it back. As it was famous. And as seen by the passion shown on this forum, has etched itself into the realm of SCG folklore!

Excuse me for trying to put the pieces together in all this. But from what I know of his movements, he was dropped back to a Geelong motel by Cher and Danny about 9pm on the Sunday. Yet he ended up dying in Melbourne. How did he get from Geelong to Melbourne that night? And if so, why can't anyone locate his bags? Did he die in a room, on a train, in a pub, on the street?

Do you think that I'm overreacting when I am starting to fear that something nasty may have happened to him (which may have caused the heart attack).

Just trying to piece together what happened that night. There seem to be a few too many conflicting stories about where he was, what he was planning to do, and how he got from A to B.

A worried JF

[BAM_BAM]

today's telegraph had a tribute to Russ, I haven't been able to find a link to the article yet, but there was a picture of Russ and Swan and quotes from Cathy.

[j s]

Took them a few days but I guess they had to wait for "official" news before they published anything.

[Beaussie]

Originally posted by BAM_BAM
today's telegraph had a tribute to Russ, I haven't been able to find a link to the article yet, but there was a picture of Russ and Swan and quotes from Cathy.

Fulltime for Swan on a stick
By Tim Morrissey
July 23, 2004

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,10219761-23211,00.html

EDIT: Please do not post articles from other websites - please click on the link to read the content

[Charlie]

Is it just me or does that article read like it was taken from a selection of posts on this thread?

[Beaussie]

I was thinking along those lines to Charlie. I guess Mr Morrissey reads RWO.

[barry]

Originally posted by Beaussie
Fulltime for Swan on a stick
By Tim Morrissey
July 23, 2004

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,10219761-23211,00.html

EDIT: Please do not post articles from other websites - please click on the link to read the content

Surely if newspapers are using RWO for content, we should be able to quote their content!

[ScottH]

Originally posted by barry
Surely if newspapers are using RWO for content, we should be able to quote their content!

Fair Point!!!!

[swansrock4eva]

Jules,
From what anyone can tell, Russ had to go back to Melbourne to get his train back to Sydney. Somewhere along the line, he decided to stop in at his favourite pub and died shortly after leasving. As I think has already been stated, his bags at last check were either in a melbourne hotel room or at Spencer St in a locker. I imagine we'll find out more next week when presumably his body will be released. From what has been said, there was nothing suspicious about his death, just his heart giving out

Also, might it be possible to get a show of hands regarding anyone who may be interested in attending his funeral - at this stage there may not be one because there has been no family interest from NZ for whatever reason, but other than family and flatmate, footy seems to have been his only real social activity, and hence football people probably the only real ones who'll come to a funeral.

Also, wrt the article, yes RWO was used - Cathy was contacted yesterday and Morrissey wasn't able to get enough details to write a decent article, so Cath asked me to forward the link to this thread. In this case I felt it was fair.

[BAM_BAM]

further to the quoting of articles, Isn't it ok to quote from an article (giving credit where due), but not post the entire article?

If by reading RWO sports writers get the feel of the Swans supporters and use that for good then that should be ok as Gemma stated. If Jules hadn't posted and we hadn't all replied in the same at our sadness of losing such a devoted fan, I doubt anything would have been mentioned at all.

I actually had people ask me today about Russ after reading the article FWIW. The general comment was that it was nice to see his passion for the team recognised, especially when they realised his only role was that of a supporter (ie; not an actual staffer within the club).

[Cher]

From my knowledge he must have passed away on Monday.
Peter H and I left him on Sunday night at his Geelong motel and he said he was going 'tomorrow' to buy his train ticket home.
Along with the rest of us he'd had a few drinks and there's no way he would have gone to Melbourne Sunday night.

Old Royboy would have more idea as he actually spoke to the Vic Police.
I hope his luggage got found, I'd hate to think of 'swan' being lost.

[port1978]

Very sad to hear about the passing of Russell.
Hope Sydney can win for him tomorrow.

RIP

[penga]