Rusby Robert John Maxwell
| Type of person | Family |
|---|---|
| Also known as: | Jack |
| Date of birth | 07/12/1905 |
| Place of birth | Gawler |
| Principal occupation | Ganger (railways) |
| Date of death | 20/11/1976 |
| Place of death | Gawler |
Robert John Maxwell Rusby, commonly called Jack, was born in Gawler on December 7, 1905, son of John Rusby and Mary nee McCormack. His mother died when he was 12 years of age. After leaving school at the age of 14, he obtained a position at May Bros. Foundry as an apprentice moulder and remained with the firm until closure at the beginning of The Depression. During the Great Depression, in 1932 Jack obtained temporary work as a moulder at Mason and Cox, Ford and Downs, and Perry's Engineering in Adelaide, but also sought employment wherever possible, such as stooking wheat, etc. He also obtained a casual position showing films in Gawler, beginning at the Open Air Theatre at the top of Murray street-Lyndoch road intersection [Lyric Theatre], and continuing right through to the Regal Theatre, which became the Ozone Theatre and eventually the Hoyts Ozone Theatre.
At the age of 24, Jack married Violet Croft in St George's Anglican Church, Gawler, on January 8, 1930. The marriage resulted in three children being born, Josephine Mary, Judith (who died shortly after birth), and Brenton Maxwell.
Eventually, Jack found full-time employment with the South Australian Railways on the Relay Gang, moving over the state relaying. He later became based at the North Gawler Maintenance Gang, and working his way up to the position of Ganger. He retired from the Ozone Theatre in 1956, when it was taken over by Hoyts, and full-time projection staff were introduced, and in December, 1970, he retired from the railways with approximately 38 years service.
On 20 November, 1976, Jack passed away at the Hutchinson Hospital after suffering a heart attack, and was laid to rest in the Willaston Cemetery, with Violet being buried with him later.
References
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