Keith Russack


Edwin Keith Russack OAM, known as Keith Russack, was a politician in the State of South Australia.

History

Russack was born at Kadina, South Australia, the youngest son of Alfred Hermann Russack and his wife Rosa. A. H. Russack was a jeweller who had served his apprenticeship with J. M. Wendt, and Keith trained as a watchmaker and was employed at his father's business in Kadina. He enlisted with the 2nd AIF early in 1940 and saw action in South-east Asia. He maintained his involvement with the military, and in 1952 was Captain of C Company 27th Infantry Battalion.
By 1953 he had two jewellery and gift stores in Kadina.
He was in September 1970 elected as a Liberal candidate for a Midland district seat in the Legislative Council made vacant by the death of Colin Rowe. In 1973 he won the seat of Gouger in the House of Assembly, succeeding Steele Hall. At the 1977 elections the seat of Gouger had been abolished, and Russack was not preselected for any seat, so stood as an Independent Liberal for Goyder, which he won, and subsequently rejoined the Liberal Party and held the seat until 1982, when he retired, to be succeeded by John Meier.

Other activities

He was Mayor of the Corporate Town of Kadina from 1968 to 1971, a charter member of Kadina Rotary Club from 1959, and director of the first Kernewek Lowender Festival. He was awarded an OAM in 1989.

Family

He married Ruth Boaden Trenwith of Kadina in February 1943. They had three sons: Rodger, Lee and Mark.