The Shane Ruthenberg Resource Library
Welcome to the Shane Ruthenberg Resource Library. The Resource Library contains a wide range of resources produced by BUSHkids you can view and download, including:
- Tip Sheets;
- BUSHkids Strategic Plan;
- Annual Reports;
- Timeline of BUSHkids’ first 80 years.
The Resource Library is named in recognition of the contribution the late Shane Ruthenberg and his family made to BUSHkids. As a child Shane was supported by Royal Queensland Bush Children’s Health Scheme to have lifesaving surgery and, to show their gratitude, Shane and his family gave back to the organisation by volunteering and raising funds to support other needy children.
Shane Ruthenberg 1959-1990
Shane Ruthenberg was born in Lowood in the Brisbane Valley during November 1959. At a very early age Shane was diagnosed with a combination of congenital defects that we now know lead to congestive heart failure and which meant he was forced to spend most of his early life in hospital.
During the late 1950s the Royal Queensland Bush Children’s Health Scheme started sending desperately ill children interstate for specialist cardiac surgery that at the time was not readily available in Queensland. In 1963 the organisation sponsored Shane and his mother to travel to Melbourne where he received pioneering open-heart surgery. After this major lifesaving operation, Shane made a remarkable recovery. His grateful parents began raising funds, with the support of the Lowood community, and held annual concerts in aid of the organisation.
Thanks to assistance from BUSHkids Shane was able to lead a normal, active life. Tragically he died shortly after his 30th birthday from an aortic aneurism which had remained undetected during his periodic medical checks following his open-heart surgery.
In 1987 Shane’s mother, Bev, was made an Honorary Life Member of Royal Queensland Bush Children’s Health Scheme in recognition of her outstanding fundraising efforts in aid of the organisation. It is fitting that we further acknowledge the contribution the Ruthenberg family and the community of Lowood made to BUSHkids by naming our Resource Library in memory of Shane.
