 His successful court action invalidating the Queensland government's stock levy in 1977, in the last year of his life, was one of his most significant achievements.Russell was born at Willambi, Manilla, near Tamworth in New South Wales.He was the fourth of five children, and the only surviving son, born to grazier Wilfred Adams Russell (who served in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland 1926–32) and his wife Millicent, daughter of pastoralist Charles Baldwin.