A few memories of a memorable guy

Following a short illness  passed away on the 27th April at the Western Hospital.

Our sympathies go out to his family at this sad time.

Max was well known and admired for his friendly, unselfish devotion as host to all who visited the gliding club-house, for almost 20 years. One could always be sure of a cuppa and a chat with Max, although this meant he would often miss out on his chance of a flight.

Early in 1964 Max discovered gliding at Bacchus Marsh; for him it was love at first sight; the gliding "bug" bit deep.

My log shows I first flew with Max on 23/02/1964 in our trusty old red and white Kookaburra Mk. 2 VH-GHT; he was a keen student and club member.

These were early days of the reborn Geelong Gliding Club, which had slowly recovered from the effects of a world war.

Following a rather nomadic existence between Belmont Common and an ex RAAF satellite airfield at Little River the club was establishing itself at Bacchus Marsh airfield. Permission for gliding being granted by DCA (Department of Civil Aviation) to the first permanent users, being a syndicate of four members of the GGC who flew their black and white Grunau Baby glider at Bacchus Marsh. The GGC had purchased a used Kookaburra GHT from the Gliding Club of Victoria. This aircraft and the new airfield promoted solid growth in membership of the club.

Launching was by auto tow and winching; both required skilled and dedicated membership to fly efficiently, involving all club members in a team effort, family members being roped in as well.

It was at this time that Max joined the club, his motor mechanic skills being put to good use helping to maintain our launching equipment. Before long the whole Hurren family became involved with gliding; Pat, Wendy and Jenny contributed to the catering in the "Old Glide Inn" whilst Alan and Les learned to drive the tow car and retrieve cables. Both learned to fly gliders to solo and beyond, Les having to wait a year or so before he could legally fly solo due to his age.

After each weekend’s gliding the gliders were de-rigged and together with the towing equipment stored in my farm shed. Max was often on hand to tow or drive some of the club equipment to my place where we would discuss the days flying and some of the many aspects of gliding, late into the evening.

In August 1964 Max and son Alan, Harvey Dunn, Jack Moor and myself drove in Max’s car to Parafield in South Australia to collect a new Mark 4 Kookaburra - GNZ - from Harry Schneider’s glider factory, the club’s first new glider.

Most retrieves breed their own gremlins of one kind or another, why should this one be any different?

After driving all night we arrived Saturday morning at Parafield. Harry proudly shows us around his factory briefly explaining the gliders under construction and particularly the operation and care of our new Kookaburra. Some time elapsed while we carefully loaded and secured the new glider, taping over the airbrakes and any other places that water may penetrate on the journey.

Departing Parafield late Saturday we decided to take a route to avoid driving through Adelaide. By now it was dark with threatening rain and we were somewhere in the Para hills looking for a turn off to take us to Murray Bridge; "this is it" yelled one guy, "turn right here", the driver obliged only to have the headlights light up a rocky wall, we’d turned into a quarry! Eventually we found our way to the Western Highway. We were all pretty shagged by now but decided to keep going. It was noticed that Max could be sound asleep within minutes of being relieved from driving; we all shared the driving changing to fresh (sic) driver regularly. Later in the night Max was again driving when Harvey noticed he had his head almost on the steering wheel, trying to read the dimly lit mileage meter; Harvey thought he’d gone to sleep.

Dawn found the weary travellers almost to Burrumbeet, rubbing their weary eyes they couldn’t quite believe what they saw, everything was white, it was snowing and quite deep on the road through Ballarat.

Climbing slowly up Woodmans Hill the slippery conditions required 2nd gear, with snow packed hard around the gear linkage it was many miles before a change could be made to a higher gear.

We eventually arrived home to my farm Sunday morning with the new white glider and a large snowman on the front of the trailer.

This was the first of many retrieves with Max and Harvey, all of them interesting and always in good company; it was on one of these trips we discovered Max’s liking for tea! But that’s another story.

Max progressed quickly from one glider to the next, the club now had a new Kooka, the Coogee, the Grunau Baby and a Kingfisher, soon to get a new Arrow. It was not long before he found himself in the back seat, he was a natural instructor, his polite, quietly reassuring manner instilled confidence in his students, to fly with Max was always an enjoyable experience.

Later Max owned a share in the 19m Jantar VH-GOD which he didn’t get to fly as much as he should have, partly his own doing; being the kind of guy he was he would either be in the clubhouse kitchen attending to others needs, or in town buying food and drink for the clubhouse. Even when he did not get out to the airfield he would let others go first, often missing on good soaring.

However we did manage to get him off one mid-week day in GOD. Gordon Pelzer launched him on a 500k O and R - B/M - Dimboola - B/M which he completed with a final glide from somewhere near Ararat, a great flight!, yes they can be done from Bacchus Marsh.

Max seldom bragged about his achievements, however I know he was immensely proud to have influenced in some small way many club members to enjoy the wonder of soaring flight, and some to go further, either in gliding, or in general aviation, building and flying, or in the RAAF or airlines.

We shall all miss his honesty, his generosity, his unselfish friendship, this man who would give to others was often embarrassed if you tried to give to him, a "gentle man".

Let’s try to maintain your high standard.