Meet The Community ‘Scallywag’ Sid Ruskin

Sid Ruskin, an 83-years young scallywag, has been part of the Burdekin ever since he first moved here 22 years ago. Born in Paddington, Sydney, his family moved from Captain's Flat to Cobar, a copper mining town in western New South Wales. They then moved to Mount Morgan near Rockhampton, before later going to Collinsville.

Sid attended school in Collinsville, before receiving a teacher scholarship to Kelvin Grove in Brisbane, becoming a primary school teacher. From there he moved to Townsville and joined the Air Force.

“My next door neighbour was in the Air Force at the time. Now that to me, sounded pretty good, so I joined the Air Force, which was in 1964. Being in the Air Force, you got around all over Australia. After 22 years, I went to RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) and became a communications engineer, then became a radio officer in the Air Force. Eventually, after being a ‘baggy bum’, I worked my way up, before eventually retiring as a Squadron Leader in Darwin,” Sid states.

Retiring from the Air Force, Sid then worked at a TAFE College in Townsville, teaching electronics and management before moving to Home Hill to care for his in-laws.

“After leaving Darwin, I got out of the Air Force right around the time these airplanes flew into those big buildings in America, which was my 60th birthday. So, I said to the missus, ‘pack up we’re leaving’. We bought a caravan to go tour Australia, before my wife's mum and dad got sick. We came back to this region and bought a house in Home Hill to look after them. And would you believe it, they both turned their toes up,” Sid jokes.

In his time here, Sid’s been involved in the Burdekin Race Club as Secretary for 10 years, while also being radio announcer on Sweet FM.

“I was Secretary of the Race Club because they couldn't find anyone, so they said, ‘Look, can you look after it for 12 months?’ 10 years later, I was still there. But that's how things happen in the Burdekin. Then for 10 years I was a radio announcer on sweet FM. I still listen to it, he says.

In his time, Sid's known five Australian Prime Ministers including Arthur Calwell.

“Arthur Calwell is the only politician in Australia to have had an assassination attempt. He lived up the road from me in North Melbourne. We were trying to get a new school, because we're right next to a tannery. Anyway, old Arthur came over and he put his support behind us and helped get a new school. I've known five prime ministers,” Sid declares.

Sid has two sons, one who lives in Home Hill, the other in Sydney, who recently visited for a fishing trip.

“He came to visit the other day, and the first thing I got him to do was cut my toenails because I can't reach them,” Sid laughs. “Anyway, he came up and wanted to go fishing. We caught a couple of brim. It's the first time he's been here for 10 years.”

Sid’s content with his current lifestyle volunteering at the Home Hill Visitor Centre, while his wife still keeps him active around the kitchen.

“She still chases me around the kitchen but it doesn't do her any good,” he smiles.

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Sid Ruskin (83), good for a yarn and a joke. Photo: Mark T. Rasmussen

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