This series is hosted by Dr Phil Roberts OAM with guest speaker, Dianne Dempsey, author of Saving Dragons: The Life and Times of Russell Goldfield Jack.
Russell Jack, the visionary founder of the internationally renowned Golden Dragon Museum, spent his life breaking barriers and preserving the history of the Chinese Australian community. Growing up in the shadow of the White Australia Policy, he turned adversity into strength, using the vibrant traditions of Chinese dragon processions as a bridge between cultures. Through the power of storytelling and historical insight, Dempsey paints a vivid portrait of a man who replaced fear with knowledge and ignorance with beauty.
This compelling biography explores Jack's humble beginnings, family legacy, athletic achievements, community leadership, and the extraordinary creation of the Golden Dragon Museum, a cultural institution that transformed Bendigo's understanding of its Chinese heritage.
Told with verve, compassion, and illuminating vignettes, Saving Dragons offers a unique slice of Australian social history and a testament to the resilience of a Chinese community that has shaped the nation's identity.
