Max Ends His Long Jersey Contribution

WORDS // RICK BAYNE

AT 89, Max McCormack has finally called stumps on an unexpected second career.

Like most people, Max officially retired from full-time work at 65, but 24 years later he has finally closed the ledger on his part-time role as secretary of Jersey Australia’s Tasmanian branch, formerly known as the Tasmanian Jersey Breeders Club.

When Max retired from his official job, he still wanted something to keep him busy and the Jersey role was a good fit, even if he didn’t know anything about dairy farming.

The branch recently hosted a farewell dinner where Max was presented with a distinguished services award for his 24-year contribution.

In nearly 100 years, the Tasmanian Jersey branch has had only five secretaries. Max took over from another long-serving secretary, Harold Hawkes, who recommended him for the job.

At the time, Harold was president of the Devonport Trotting Club and Max was secretary.

“Harold was leaving so he suggested I might take it over,” he said. “I grew up on a mixed farm but it wasn’t dairy. I probably milked one of the house cows when I was in primary school, that was my only connection with dairying.”

That didn’t matter; Max soon grew to love everything about the industry, especially the farmers.

“I came to enjoy the secretarial work and particularly the people involved in dairy,” he said. “They’re such good people and I really enjoyed working with them.”

Max was secretary of the trotting club for 32 years and also the Tasmanian Holstein society for eight years. His professional working life included eight years with the Commonwealth Bank and 40 years with produce company Clements and Marshall Pty Ltd in office work, accounting duties and helping the company to set up its state-wide computer system.

He was also a Devonport North Rotary Club member for 39 years, including roles as president and treasurer. He also received a Paul Harris Fellowship award.

“When you get involved with those sorts of jobs, no-one wants to take over,” he joked.

Max was known to go above and beyond normal expectations for the Jersey branch.

“In the earlier days there was more to do because all the registrations came through the state secretary. Later on, when it became computerised, it all went straight to Jersey Australia so that changed,” he said.

“Every year we organised a local onfarm challenge as part of the Great Southern Challenge and that took a bit of work.”

Max also played a major role when the branch hosted the national conference in 2014.

Although still in good health, Max said he felt it was time to retire.

“It comes to a stage when it’s time for someone younger to take it on,” he said. “It has been a terrific interest for myself and my wife Peg, who loves coming along to the events and dinners.”

While retiring from the secretarial work, Max hopes to keep in touch with the branch. “They’ve already said that if the conference comes to Tasmania next year, they might be able to use me a little bit.”

Treasurer Geoff Heazlewood said Max was a very well-respected administrator in his previous work and in his role with the Jersey club.

“He came recommended to us by Harold and he has been an excellent secretary,” Geoff said. “He was particularly good on correspondence and was very committed to doing the job.

“He was involved in all the Jersey functions and on-farm challenges. He’d even run the judges around and put them up at his home if they needed.”

“Whenever there was a function, he was there, even though he didn’t have to be. He will be very much missed but we will hopefully see him at our meetings and events.” It is expected one of the state committee members will take on the secretarial role.

(l-r) Tasmanian branch members Geoff Heazlewood, Ken Lawrence, Nathan Chilcott, John Sykes,Jane Sykes, Samantha Johns, Shanae Perkins. (front) Peg and Max McCormack and Tasmanian president Judy Johns.