Every Saturday morning throughout their childhood, sisters Nola and Robyn Russell would help their father in the family’s Oakleigh butcher shop.
The siblings dearly loved their dad and enjoyed keeping him company, but it was their love for the Old Dark Navy Blues (which was instilled by their father) that made them rush into the shop every weekend.
“Dad had a butcher shop in Oakleigh for over 50 years,” Nola said.
“We used to go down to the shop on Saturday mornings and help him so we’d be able to get to the game on time and see the first bounce.
“We would always tell him to hurry up and get out of there,” she laughed.
James Russell in his Oakleigh butcher shop.
Their father, James Russell, was a loyal and devoted Carlton man who loved nothing more than taking his two girls to the football – whether it was Princes Park, Victoria Park or Windy Hill.
“I just remember standing on a little stool,” Nola said.
“Every game we took this little stool with us and we would place it in front of the social club at Princes Park because there were no seats, it was all pretty basic back then,” she laughed.
“We also used to go to Essendon’s ground and park in a special spot and we had a special spot at Collingwood’s ground.”
There’s no doubt Nola’s passion for the Blues stemmed from her father. After witnessing his first Carlton match in the late 1920s, James received his first membership in 1931 – when he was just a 14-year-old – and never looked back.
He saw 11 premierships including the 1945 ‘bloodbath’ against South Melbourne, and with each finals campaign, the shop in Oakleigh was decked out in navy blue.
“Dad used to decorate the window of the shop during finals time. It used to be dressed all in navy blue, white and covered with Bruce Doull posters,” Nola said.
“When we’d find out we were in the finals we’d go down and put the streamers up and the balloons – everything Carlton you can think of, we had!”
It’s no wonder Nola is just so “one-eyed Carlton”.
“Dad used to tell us all about the battles we had with the Swans and Collingwood and Richmond, and who the dirty players were,” she joked.
Sadly, James passed away aged 98 on 10 November this year, almost two years after receiving a membership certificate from his beloved Blues.
James Russell receives a membership certificate from Carlton champions Stephen Kernahan and Chris Judd.
“He was awarded with an 80+ year certificate and it was handed to him by Stephen Kernahan and Chris Judd at the AGM – dad was absolutely thrilled.
“He had it pride of place in his nursing home room.
“As part of the celebrations we were also invited to the president’s luncheon – it was just a lovely day.”
At 97-years-old, James was still regularly going to Carlton’s games with Nola.
“Dad and I used to go to every home game up until last year,” she said.
“The last match dad went to was Chris Judd’s farewell game against Melbourne this year in Round 21.
“People in the social club were coming up to him and talking to him, he was sort of a cult figure in there – he just loved it.”
Nola has carried on the family’s Bluebagger tradition, having already signed up two of her three grandchildren.
“I’ve joined the two boys up for Carlton memberships: Thomas is four-and-a-half and Alexander is eight months. The little girl is only three months old and the season had finished when she was born – but she’ll be signed up next year!” Nola chuckled.
Heading to the football will continue to be a family affair for Nola and her sister Robyn, and there’s no doubt their father’s old saying, “we’ll be up there”, will always be in the forefront of their minds.
