General News
21 March, 2025
MAX TO THE MAX — In-fatigable and industrious! - By Brian Lennen
As I listened intently to the bugler’s playing of “The Last Post” and followed by “Reveille”, tears welled in my eyes.
The bugler was a gentleman I fortunately got to know well, he was Max Martin.
Max made an incredible contribution to his adopted home, Maryborough, in the fields of education, sport, broadcasting, community service and harness racing, along with his time as a journalist at The Maryborough Advertiser, where he made a valuable contribution.
Personality-wise Max was impartial, always having an ear for both sides. It was a trait that infuriated those with strong views either way.
Max graduated at Ballarat Teacher’s College and obtained a diploma of PE at Melbourne University.
The outcome enabled him to become a qualified teacher who extended his qualifications to teach at the Maryborough High School for 40-plus years.
He was involved in Post Graduate teaching for departmental qualifications.
I attended these classes and was impressed with his professionalism. His knowledge amazed us all.
Max’s father, John, was principal at Stawell Primary School for many years.
His brothers Alan, Greg and Rod were also teachers.
Alan’s fame was ensured when he was a prominent player in the Footscray Football Club’s first premiership team.
Joan, his sister, was an air hostess and was an outstanding tennis player winning a number of local tournaments.
I encountered Max’s brother Rod, who was a mathematics teacher at Colac High School, and Alan who was an institution at Eaglehawk.
Initially with Doug Stenning, Barry Chandler and Bob Osborne, they started a live sports forum on 3CV radio.
This continued on under Max’s guidance from Burke Street, to above Frank Moore’s to the transmission station at Carisbrook, and finally above the bank in High Street.
These programs had a wide listening audience and featured a wide variety of sports and guests.
The program went from 9 am to midday on Saturday mornings.
Lorraine, Max’s sister, worked as a teacher and lecturer at Melbourne University. Her and her husband together with state sports minister Brian Dixon, Phillip Adams and illustrator Alex Stiff, created the “Life Be In It!” This program was shown across radio and television and presented across all avenues for two decades.
In 2025 “Life Be In It” has been revived and is being reshown again encouraging “Norms” to become active to live more of his life, not in his imagination.
From 1970 to 2011 Max was the secretary of the Highland sports.
He was in charge of setting up the course. His broadcasting system was set up to cover all events.
He catered for a wide range of athletes.
As secretary of the Maryborough and Castlemaine District League he served for 40 years from 1968 to 2007. Through his efforts the league thrived and he was made a life member.
The AFL recognised him as the medallist receiving the state’s best country administrator.
In 2012 Max was conferred with the country service medal.
With the visit of the Sri Lankan cricket team Max organised his broadcasting system, setting it up and taking it down.
Despite all his efforts Max was heavily involved with the ‘Bill Davies stable’.
He was Bill’s right-hand man, working with a small but brilliant stable.
The stable consisted of champions Future Intangible, Future Raider and You Crovotte.
Max was a winning driver on the wild horse You Crovotte.
At home Max collected an extensive history of football in the district.
During the State Government’s dissolving of Local Government councils,
Max was made the administrator of the Pyrenees Council based in Avoca.
Max and his wife Pat had three children. Unfortunately Wendy passed on several years ago. Alex has just returned from the USA, and Ray has delivered three grandchildren.
Unfortunately Max was lost to the community in 2014 at the age of 82.