Page 36 - The Outdoor Showman APR-JUN 2019

Into the Sunset
Max Laurie OAM
27/12/1942 – 19/3/2019
MAX LAURIE passed away in Dubbo on the 19th March 2019, surrounded by his wife Irene and his two children Denver and Jeannie.
Husband, Father, Brother, Grandfather, Uncle, Father-in-law, Mentor, Teacher, Confidant, Advisor, Friend.
He was all these things and more, and everyone that knew him knew of his kindness and giving nature. He was a huge character and made an impact on everyone he met. He spoke from his heart and would always be willing to lend an ear and offer some advice.
Max Andrew Laurie OAM was born in Dubbo on 27th December 1942. He was the third of four children to Lily and Frank Laurie, a brother to Frank, Jean and Evelyn.
From a very young age, he loved to give his time and efforts to helping others. He took great pride not only in his own work, but in the work and achievements of others particularly those he helped along the way.
Dad always put his time into his children like he did his work. You would often find one or both of us following him around while he worked. Sometimes it was to watch him and learn what he was doing, and sometimes it was to keep asking him when he was taking us wherever it was that he had promised to take us that day. Although we spent a lot of time waiting for him, he took us and all the other kids many places.
Dad had a way of teaching which made it feel like it wasn’t even a lesson. I learnt so much from my dad without even realising it. He taught me not just about work but also about life. These lessons were so often disguised as just conversation that I didn’t realise until later that I was even learning. He loved teaching others and showing them how to do things, whether it be fixing a dodgem car motor or straightening an axle. He also loved to tell
stories and I’m sure everyone has their He was not just about hard work though,
own Max story that they love the best.
He not only loved helping people, but he had a real passion for animals too, mainly dogs. He was as loyal to his animals as they were to him and I remember on more than one occasion someone saying, “When I die, I want to come back as one of Max’s dogs”. He brought animals home even when mum didn’t want them. When he bought home his Blue Heeler Cobar, mum pretended she wasn’t there for a couple of weeks because the last thing she thought they needed was another dog much less another Cattle dog.
He was a long-time member of The Showmen’s Guild of Australasia, The Victorian Showmen’s Guild and The Showmen’s Guild of South Australia. He represented his guilds with pride and honour and served as President of the Victorian Showmen’s Guild from 2002 right up until the time of his death.
Dad excelled greatly in his industry, he started out carting stock in the day and building his very first set of Dodgem Cars by night. Once those first set of Dodgem Cars were complete, the only way was up. He and mum worked hard and expanded their business, having great success in everything that they tried.
Dad really loved his industry and put
his heart and soul into it. He was very involved in all aspects of his industry and he did everything he could to help it move with the times and bring it into the future. He consulted for Standards Australia to ensure that the industry was represented at this level.
He loved helping young showmen and was always there to help whether it be with a 12ft position, to fix a truck or to weld a broken joint gable.
In 2013, the great efforts and contributions to both his industry and
his community were recognised by
his receiving of the Order of Australia Medal. This was probably his greatest life achievement and he was so very proud of it, as was his entire family.
he loved a good joke or story, and these were often at the expense of someone else. He told the jokes and stories that no one else could get away with and loved the shock value on people’s faces when he told an inappropriate one. True to his nature, he told his last inappropriate joke the day before he passed. A joke that I cannot put into print, but I can say that it involved one of his hospital nurses and
I am sure those of you that knew him would be able to imagine. The nurse was a good sport and gave him the laugh that he so desired.
He fought a very brave battle with his illness and never took no for an answer. If a doctor told him there was nothing that could be done, he would find another doctor with another approach. He tried anything and everything as far as treatment went and was constantly defying the odds and surprising his doctors at every turn. He never let his illness take control of him and he never let it define him or dampen his spirits.
In the end, in true Max Laurie form, he decided when it was time to go.
TosayDadwasagreatmanisan understatement, he was so much more than that, there are no words that could possibly describe him in his entirety.
I feel incredibly proud, honoured and privileged to be able to call him my Father.
I would like to extend my most sincere thanks to everyone who has and continues to offer their love and support to my family and myself. This is and has been the darkest time of our lives to date and so many people have been there to help us along the way. Thank you all.
Dad’s was a life that was lived to the full. It is a life that will never be forgotten, and he will live on in all of those whose lives he touched.
We will talk about him often, we will laugh, we will cry but most importantly we will remember him.
Jeannie Laurie-Emmett
Max and his son Denver Max and his grandson Henton Max and his sister Jean Max and Jeannie on her wedding day
34 THE OUTDOOR SHOWMAN