Some men belong to history. Others belong to the national conscience. Bruce Ruxton was the latter.
He was mocked, caricatured, and dismissed as a relic of another age – but we didn’t care. We loved him.
Because Ruxton spoke with the blunt honesty of a man who had earned the right to speak. He did not seek approval, nor soften his words for fashion or comfort. He said what many Australians felt, long before saying such things became unfashionable – or dangerous.
A Second World War digger who stormed ashore in Borneo with the 2/25th Battalion, Ruxton survived the brutality of war and captivity and came home scarred, hardened, but unbroken. What the war did not take from him was his fire. That fire burned for the rest of his life – in defence of veterans, the ANZAC legacy, the flag, the monarchy, and an unapologetic Australian identity.
For decades as president of the Victorian RSL, Bruce Ruxton became a thunderous presence in public life. Loved by millions as the voice of the silent majority and feared by bureaucrats and cultural trendsetters alike, he was pure Aussie grit personified. When he died in December 2011, many feared that something irreplaceable had gone with him – the raw, defiant spirit of traditional Australia itself.
As Happy Expat wrote;
Bruce Ruxton was an unapologetic patriot and a steadfast advocate for Australian veterans, known for his unwavering commitment to the nation’s values and heritage.
As the long-serving President of the Victorian branch of the Returned and Services League (RSL), he became a household name, boldly championing the rights of ex-servicemen and women while fiercely opposing policies he believed undermined Australia's sovereignty and identity.
A decorated World War II veteran, Ruxton's straight-talking demeanour and passion for preserving Australia's ANZAC spirit often sparked controversy, yet his dedication earned him respect across political and social divides.
Bruce Ruxton is one of my heroes. I never met the man and these notes are drawn from personal recollection of some of his better known controversial escapades with a bit of research added in.
He passed on 23rd of December 2011.
He was born too late to be able to become a hero in the traditional sense.
He joined the Army in 1944 and was assigned to the Survey Corps of the Royal Australian Engineers, a natural progression from his civilian occupation. Towards the end of the war, he was transferred as a rifleman during the Borneo campaign.
But flames like Ruxton’s do not die easily. They pass from hand to hand, generation to generation. The torch found carriers in figures like Bob Katter, the hat-wearing Queensland maverick thundering for farmers and sovereignty;
Pauline Hanson, fearless on immigration and community values; and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, bold and clear-eyed on Indigenous issues and national cohesion. They keep the spirit alive amid shifting tides, defending Australia with the same uncompromising energy.
Yet even these mates cannot hold the torch forever. The real question has always been: who is next? Social media bans silencing under-16s, campus speech codes, and hate speech laws that blur the line between incitement and honest debate threaten to dim the flame. Many feared the youth were lost – blinded by global narratives, economic despair, and filtered feeds. Without them, all the roar of the old guard risks fading into history.
Look closer in 2025, and the flame is burning brighter than ever among the young.
Patriotism is quietly rising, led not by the old guard but by Gen Z and young millennials rejecting the guilt narrative.
ANZAC Day crowds swell with under-30s turning out in record numbers, honouring the diggers without apology. Surveys show two-thirds of Gen Z believe the Anzac legacy must endure, even as some institutions push critique over celebration.
Emerging voices are stepping up. Keeping his voice alive.
At CPAC Australia 2025 in Brisbane, young speakers like Edward Schuller - a fiery advocate for Christianity, family, and Australian values – delivered orations echoing Ruxton’s unfiltered passion, earning praise as an “emerging conservative leader in Queensland.” Mia Schlicht, a sharp commentator on immigration, defence, and energy policy, represents a new wave of articulate young women pushing back against mainstream tides.
Others bubble up organically: young men and women in regional towns organising rallies, defending Australia Day traditions, and amplifying pride online before restrictions bite. Figures like Oliver Griffiths, proudly more conservative than his parents, and grassroots activists at events like CPAC demonstrate a generational shift - especially among young Australians rejecting assaults on masculinity and embracing positive national identity.
This isn’t blind nostalgia; it’s a response to real pressures – housing unaffordability, job insecurity, and cultural erosion – but channelled into pride rather than despair. These young Australians are listening to Ruxton’s lessons, Hanson’s courage, Price’s clarity, and Katter’s defiance. They are not waiting for permission – they are leading, mentoring, speaking, and organising.
Yet the chilling effect of restrictive laws and speech codes threatens to silence them before they can truly carry the torch.
Ruxton’s legacy was never just history – it was a call to forge the next legends. In 2025, as the old guard fades, the youth are answering. They are the new roar, but only if they are allowed to speak freely, debate openly, and challenge ideas without fear. The eternal flame burns, but its survival depends on empowering young Australians to carry it forward.
Lest we forget the old warriors… and lest we fail to defend the freedom of the young ones to carry the torch higher.
They are here. They are rising. And Australia’s spirit is in safe hands – if we let it speak. And that is the worry. After the outrage at Bondi Beach, it appears thaat our voices may be silenced even more.
With heartfelt acknowledgement to Happy Expat’s original tribute on Patriot Realm – a salute to a true Australian legend whose spirit still burns bright.
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