The real Bruce Ruxton
The former World War Two veteran, Mr Bruce Ruxton, was honoured by a huge crowd that witnessed a precession that slowly travelled along the streets of Tewantin as a mark of respect for a man who, while often seen as very controversial in his views, was also idolised as a hero to so many of his Return Service League peers. Born in Victoria, Mr Ruxton was president of the Victorian branch of the RSL from 1979 to 2002. He saw service in World War II in the southwest Pacific and Borneo, and three years in Japan with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force. He was discharged from the Australian Army in 1949. His advocacy for veterans was recognised with an MBE, which was upgraded to an OBE in 1981. Mr Ruxton retired to Tewantin in 2002. He sadly passed away aged 85 after a long battle with dementia. Lest We Forget
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Mr Bruce Ruxton Talks to the children in Studfield East Primary School next to Michael Doughty, the boy who invited him to the school.
Bruce Ruxton dies in a Queensland nursing home
While Mr Ruxton held the formal title of president of the Victorian branch of the Returned and Services League from 1979 until 2002 and was a vigourous advocate of veteran rights, he was better known as an opponent of homosexuality, republicanism, and Japanese investment in Australia.
A man of passionate views, he could always be relied on by talkback radio hosts or any organisers of public events to put forward a strong case on issues such as retaining the Australian flag or the royal family. He once referred to South African Anglican bishop Desmond Tutu as a "witch doctor".
In 1998, he attended the Constitutional Convention for the Republic as a representative of the monarchist group, having declared that RSL members "will never agree to this country becoming a republic".
"We are proud to be associated with the Queen, who is our patron, and who, as this country's head of state, has never once put a foot wrong," he said. "Show me a politician with such a record."
Mr Ruxton became a figure readily lampooned by various comics and he always took this in good spirit, even parodying himself with a rap song in 1992.
While he wore his conservative heart on his sleeve, often overlooked was his work for veteIt is believed he fell into a coma on Wednesday, but was surrounded by his family at the time of his death.
Indicative of his passion was one occasion when he was in the middle of a fight on television between former pop star and veteran Normie Rowe and broadcaster Ron Casey, after which Mr Ruxton declared, "as for Ron Casey, he deserved a good punch in the nose".
Rowe said yesterday that Mr Ruxton's death marked the "end of an era". "Some people hold office in these organisations and don't achieve much," Rowe said. "Bruce was not one of those people. He understood the people he represented and he stood up for those constituents. Ex-servicemen did not have a better friend."
Tributes to Mr Ruxton flowed in yesterday, including one from former prime minister Malcolm Fraser, who said he did not always agree with Mr Ruxton.
"He filled his role as president of the Victorian RSL with commitment and great vigour," Mr Fraser said.
"He was a tireless fighter for the interests of ex-servicemen and ex-servicewomen and many people will remember him with affection."rans. Born in Melbourne, he saw service in World War II in the southwest Pacific and Borneo, and three years in Japan with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force, before being discharged in 1949.
Although he never advanced past the rank of private, he still became active in the RSL and in 1975, well before he was widely known to the public, his advocacy for veterans was recognised with an MBE which was upgraded to an OBE in 1981.
He spent his final years at Tewantin on the Sunshine Coast and suffered from dementia.
It is believed he fell into a coma on Wednesday, but was surrounded by his family at the time of his death.
Indicative of his passion was one occasion when he was in the middle of a fight on television between former pop star and veteran Normie Rowe and broadcaster Ron Casey, after which Mr Ruxton declared, "as for Ron Casey, he deserved a good punch in the nose".
Rowe said yesterday that Mr Ruxton's death marked the "end of an era". "Some people hold office in these organisations and don't achieve much," Rowe said. "Bruce was not one of those people. He understood the people he represented and he stood up for those constituents. Ex-servicemen did not have a better friend."
Tributes to Mr Ruxton flowed in yesterday, including one from former prime minister Malcolm Fraser, who said he did not always agree with Mr Ruxton.
"He filled his role as president of the Victorian RSL with commitment and great vigour," Mr Fraser said.
"He was a tireless fighter for the interests of ex-servicemen and ex-servicewomen and many people will remember him with affection."
Former army chief Peter Cosgrove said he had known Mr Ruxton for 15 years and "respected him for what he stood for and achieved". "To many of us Bruce Ruxton was a general," General Cosgrove said. "But he was not just a leader of Victorian members but an inspiration to the entire defence community."
Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce described Mr Ruxton as "a great Australian and colourful character".
"Everybody forgave Bruce his sometimes eccentricities because they saw in the deeper person a man of great humanity, kindness, with a great love of his country," Senator Joyce said.
Andrew Fraser Journalist Brisbane December the 24th, 2011
A man of passionate views, he could always be relied on by talkback radio hosts or any organisers of public events to put forward a strong case on issues such as retaining the Australian flag or the royal family. He once referred to South African Anglican bishop Desmond Tutu as a "witch doctor".
In 1998, he attended the Constitutional Convention for the Republic as a representative of the monarchist group, having declared that RSL members "will never agree to this country becoming a republic".
"We are proud to be associated with the Queen, who is our patron, and who, as this country's head of state, has never once put a foot wrong," he said. "Show me a politician with such a record."
Mr Ruxton became a figure readily lampooned by various comics and he always took this in good spirit, even parodying himself with a rap song in 1992.
While he wore his conservative heart on his sleeve, often overlooked was his work for veteIt is believed he fell into a coma on Wednesday, but was surrounded by his family at the time of his death.
Indicative of his passion was one occasion when he was in the middle of a fight on television between former pop star and veteran Normie Rowe and broadcaster Ron Casey, after which Mr Ruxton declared, "as for Ron Casey, he deserved a good punch in the nose".
Rowe said yesterday that Mr Ruxton's death marked the "end of an era". "Some people hold office in these organisations and don't achieve much," Rowe said. "Bruce was not one of those people. He understood the people he represented and he stood up for those constituents. Ex-servicemen did not have a better friend."
Tributes to Mr Ruxton flowed in yesterday, including one from former prime minister Malcolm Fraser, who said he did not always agree with Mr Ruxton.
"He filled his role as president of the Victorian RSL with commitment and great vigour," Mr Fraser said.
"He was a tireless fighter for the interests of ex-servicemen and ex-servicewomen and many people will remember him with affection."rans. Born in Melbourne, he saw service in World War II in the southwest Pacific and Borneo, and three years in Japan with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force, before being discharged in 1949.
Although he never advanced past the rank of private, he still became active in the RSL and in 1975, well before he was widely known to the public, his advocacy for veterans was recognised with an MBE which was upgraded to an OBE in 1981.
He spent his final years at Tewantin on the Sunshine Coast and suffered from dementia.
It is believed he fell into a coma on Wednesday, but was surrounded by his family at the time of his death.
Indicative of his passion was one occasion when he was in the middle of a fight on television between former pop star and veteran Normie Rowe and broadcaster Ron Casey, after which Mr Ruxton declared, "as for Ron Casey, he deserved a good punch in the nose".
Rowe said yesterday that Mr Ruxton's death marked the "end of an era". "Some people hold office in these organisations and don't achieve much," Rowe said. "Bruce was not one of those people. He understood the people he represented and he stood up for those constituents. Ex-servicemen did not have a better friend."
Tributes to Mr Ruxton flowed in yesterday, including one from former prime minister Malcolm Fraser, who said he did not always agree with Mr Ruxton.
"He filled his role as president of the Victorian RSL with commitment and great vigour," Mr Fraser said.
"He was a tireless fighter for the interests of ex-servicemen and ex-servicewomen and many people will remember him with affection."
Former army chief Peter Cosgrove said he had known Mr Ruxton for 15 years and "respected him for what he stood for and achieved". "To many of us Bruce Ruxton was a general," General Cosgrove said. "But he was not just a leader of Victorian members but an inspiration to the entire defence community."
Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce described Mr Ruxton as "a great Australian and colourful character".
"Everybody forgave Bruce his sometimes eccentricities because they saw in the deeper person a man of great humanity, kindness, with a great love of his country," Senator Joyce said.
Andrew Fraser Journalist Brisbane December the 24th, 2011
