Page 52 - My Memoirs - Max Kurz

hope that we would get sufficient numbers to compensate us. It happened and from that day on, it was an instant success, proving the need for representation of business brokers in the business community. To this day the association has moved from strength to strength driven by dedicated brokers contributing voluntarily to its hallmark in providing best practice standards in education and training. I was delighted to receive an honorary life membership some years back, and still remain actively engaged in education and training as a workshop presenter and mentor. I have made many lifelong friendships and learnt so much from others. It has been a wonderful and fulfilling experience. One broker who is worthy of mention is Stephen Wray who I met when he was a young man making his way in business broking, specialising in newsagencies and childcare businesses. On one occasion when I was teaching at Tafe, Steve came up to me and said “I could never do what you do”, today that young man is one of the most experienced and respected business brokers in the profession, and is developing and presenting business brokers’ and valuation courses.
The 1980s saw my children evolving through adolescence into adulthood. Each had their own challenges. Leanne was dealing with health and personal issues. She had a need to travel overseas to the U.S. which she did on three occasions divided between short and long periods. By the end of the 80s she met the man that she would marry, Kevin Newell, and have her first child with. It was a disruptive period, extremely challenging particularly for Leanne who gave birth to a baby girl weighing 10lbs, my first grandchild named Kayla.
Wayne had his own challenges after leaving school, finding his way in the world, Alf always referenced to Wayne as “Mr In-Between”, true to the meaning as a young man he had a lot to deal with, work, relationships, friends, sport. He also took off for overseas all of which added to his experiences. His greatest challenge was when he met his lifelong partner and wife to be Niccla Luthy. By the end of the 80s and early 90s I had two married children.
Each one of us was going through life changing experiences influenced by the past and present events. It would be difficult to encapsulate those events here. Suffice to say, I can proudly state that my children turned out to be upstanding, responsible people and parents, intelligent, caring and loving, and to this day we are a close family. Renee and I share all the virtues of family and friendship which has not wavered in all those years.
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