Shirley Russell’s delight at being recognised with a gong in the King’s Birthday Honours List goes well beyond personal satisfaction.
Women’s rugby is being seen on multiple levels and this is the latest powerful takeaway.
Russell has devoted a lifetime to rugby. Her Member of the Order of Australia (AM) recognises her service over three decades as a Queensland player, coach and volunteer.
Facebook messages, texts and calls from well-wishers have flooded in. Of course, her playful rugby mates couldn’t resist the gags as well.
“Do we have to call you Dame Shirley from now on?,” asked one.
One thing we now know about Russell is that she can keep a secret.
“An honour like this is incredibly humbling. I was notified six weeks ago that my name was being put forward by a committee to the Governor-General,” Russell said. “I told no one.”
That wasn’t her first reaction.
“I thought it was a scam to start with because I received the first notification by email. No way am I anticipating such an honour. It took phoning a contact number to find out it was real. Incredible,” she said with a laugh.
The AM follows recognition as the Queensland Rugby Union’s first female Life Member in 2024. Her pioneering role when women’s rugby was first gaining a foothold in Queensland in the mid-‘90s is a substantial part of her resume as well as her ongoing involvement.
In March, she was coaching at the kids clinics when the Classic Wallabies played in Toowoomba and popped down to a night of local girls rugby for good measure.
“I coach rugby players. Most often, they just happened to be women,” Russell said of breaking down gender stereotypes.
She is also part of an enthusiastic group of Vintage Reds women’s players who offer support to the current crop.
The New Zealand-born Russell was a flanker in the original Queensland women’s team in 1996 and represented the Wallaroos at the 1998 World Cup.
She coached Queensland as well.
“I think it is so important for girls and young women to see all the possible roles there are for them in rugby. It might not just be playing but coaching or being an administrator,” Russell said.
“I’m a big supporter of the QRU’s new Girls Can Tackle Anything program around the state which is creating more girls-only teams, female-only coaching accreditation courses and workshops for female match officials.”
Russell was delighted with the progress of the Queensland Reds women’s team this year with their jump from last in 2024 to the 2025 grand final.
“I saw the dedication to the rebuild from the girls and the turnaround possible with stable coaching. It was a credit to those involved because the belief was there as well,” Russell said.
Russell is not one to stand still. She is upbeat about launching the Scrum Sistas podcast series next month to coincide with the Wallaroos vs Wales Test at Ballymore on July 26.
It’s a project she will take through to the World Cup in England later this year where Shirley Russell AM will be in enthusiastic attendance.
