Born at Rocky Lead near Daylesford in Victoria to Irish-born teacher Henry Russell and Maria Louisa, née Doyle.
He represented the society in the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration against Hugh Victor McKay in September 1907; his wife Kate was used by H. B. Higgins in his landmark Harvester Judgement as an example of struggling working-class women.
[1] In January 1911 the union declared that all industry workers were required to join; McKay and the employers responded with a lockout and the use of free labour and Russell was forced to compromise for only small wage increases.
In 1926 an attempt to reduce work hours was also unsuccessful, and unemployment in the industry forced Russell to call for increased tariffs on machinery.
The financial situation did not improve during the Depression, during which Russell's salary was £1 per week, and he resigned in February 1933.