It is with personal sadness and also great respect that I write this tribute to a construction industry icon and a great man with whom I have had the following wonderful relationships; client, competitor, family friend and mate.

Alf Russell passed away on 24 November 2011 surrounded by his family after a battle with cancer. His funeral was held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell, Auckland, on 30 November, followed by a celebration of Alf’s life in the new South Stand at Eden Park, which Dominion Constructors played a large part in delivering for the Rugby World Cup. Alf is survived by his wife Lynne, children Jackie, Brett, Kerin, and seven grandchildren.

A testament to Alf’s standing in the industry was represented by the 1500 that turned out to pay their last respects at the Cathedral. To look around the church and see the CEOs and senior managers of our major construction companies, leading New Zealand architects and engineers, principals of cost consultancies, funders and key businessmen – who were both clients and friends of Alf’s – made it very clear his position and contribution to the industry.

Alf was ‘old school’. His word was his bond and when he shook your hand a deal was concluded, and never reneged on

The other key group of people represented at the Cathedral where the staff and past employees of the various Russell Group companies where Alf had been their boss, friend and mentor. The respect, sadness and mana for Alf shown by this group were the most touching of the day. The haka performed by them as the funeral procession left the Cathedral was moving for all and befitted the legend we have lost. Some background into the life of Alf Russell reinforces the three great things in Alf’s life – his family, hard work and being able to enjoy himself.

Born into modest surroundings, Alf lived his early years in Swanson and then Blockhouse Bay, from where he attended Avondale College. Life was tough in the 1950s and when Alf left school at the age of 14, special dispensation was sought, and he joined the workforce to help support his family. He started work with his uncle doing forestry work in the Rotorua/Putaruru forest before – like a lot of young Kiwis – he jumped the ditch to work in Australia, where he had many jobs including stints as a drainlayer, in an abattoir and on a large cattle station in Dubbo.

In the late 1950s Alf returned to New Zealand to help support his mother and started as an apprentice bricklayer under his uncle Alf Farley in Auckland. He formed his own company AJ Russell Bricklayers in 1965, and this is where it all started: as they say from small acorns grow big trees. During this time Alf’s other great passion was Judo. He was at the time New Zealand’s youngest black belt and was New Zealand Champion. In 1959, through Judo, he met an attractive young nurse and in 1963 the lifelong family and business partnership of Alf and Lynne Russell began when they were married in St Andrews Church in Epsom.

The 1960s was a boom time in construction in New Zealand and Alf and Lynne had a thriving business, with Alf doing what he loved out in the field with his team of brickies and blocklayers, and Lynne ordering concrete, materials and managing the books, while also managing the family. During this period they also purchased a beachfront section at Whangapoua and the Russell family have been synonymous with Whangapoua for over 45 years. Alf and Lynne recently prevented the loss of the Whangapoua General Store which is a key service provider to the local community. When asked why they did this, a simple and modest response: “So our grandchildren have somewhere to buy an ice block.”

Alf was ambitious and one of his great attributes was his ability to embrace changes in construction technology. So in the late 1960s he purchased a secondhand grout pump for the masonry business. This was followed by two hydraulic boom pumps, the first of their kind to grace Auckland construction sites. Russell Concrete Pumps was born and went on to service the industry as the largest concrete pump operation, until the business was sold to Firth Industries a few months before the 1987 stock market crash; again impeccable timing. Alf could have retired at the age of 49 and spent his days at Whangapoua, boating and fishing.

To validate Alf’s contribution to this industry one only needs to look at the Auckland skyline to see the projects completed by the Group

Instead Alf started in a new direction and with his son Brett Russell at his side, they went on to form one of the most unique and successful father-son partnerships our industry has seen, which has spanned almost 30 years. Initially with the business AJ Russell Bricklayers, then the addition of Aotea Paving, the purchase of Dominion Constructors in the early 1990s and more recently the addition of Acrow and Stresscrete, they have created a truly integrated, privately owned business group. The group spans property, development, construction, product and material supply and is run with the support and inclusion of the whole Russell family including partners.

The other key attribute to this success is that the group of companies continues to be one of the largest direct employers of construction labour. Alf always worked on the simple premise; his men and women, using his plant and equipment. To validate Alf’s contribution to this industry one only needs to look at the Auckland skyline to see the projects completed by the Group; in fact the tower crane in Beach Rd demonstrates the contribution continues today sadly without him. Some of his high profile projects include Sky City, Eden Park, Spring Hill Prison, Marsden Point, Viaduct Basin redevelopment and Giltrap showrooms to name a few but there are also thousands of block house bases and retaining walls he has constructed over the years that stand testament to his contribution.

He was a registered mason and member of the Auckland Masonry Trades Association for over 40 years. He supported the Auckland rescue helicopter for over 20 years, and supported through donations or sponsorship many other community and sporting groups that encourage and develop the future of New Zealand’s children and young adults.

Finally, Alf was ‘old school’. His word was his bond and when he shook your hand a deal was concluded, and never reneged on. His employees all say he was hard, fair, always wanting to know how they were getting on, at home or with their sports. If they needed help he was always there for them. His three great loves of family, work and enjoying life, transcended his business dealings. He is a legend and the construction industry will miss his significant input and he is missed by colleagues and friends.

The industry’s thoughts are with the Russell family for their huge loss but I am sure Alf continues to watch over us all, and would want us celebrating his life not mourning him.

Go well my old mate.