Tributes from family, friends and surf boat champions after North Coast ‘legend’ Max James Sidney dies at 89
Family, mates and surf boat champions have paid tribute to popular North Coast business and sporting icon Max Sidney after his sad death. Here’s how he will be remembered.
Regional News
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A “pillar” of the North Coast community described as a quietly spoken man who “gave so much” has been remembered for his love of family, sport – and all things plumbing.
Max James Sidney died surrounded by family on May 4 aged 89.
Business Sidney & Hacking is a by-word in the commercial life of northern NSW and a generational institution – Max picked up the baton from his father, Stanley Sidney, who passed it from his dad and 1903 founder Norman Sidney.
Daughter Lisa Sidney said her brother, Andrew Sidney, did his apprenticeship with the twins Max and Brian and later purchased the business from them.
Today, Andrew Sidney has passed the baton to his son, Taylor Sidney, (great-great-grandson of founder, Norman Sidney) who is sharing the helm with long-term employee Peter Marychurch.
Ms Sidney said her father was a keen business and sportsman.
“Dad rode surf boats and back in the 60s they won the Australian Surfboat title three years in a row with the same crew,” she said.
“I don’t think that record has been broken.”
Ms Sidney said her Dad was the “backbone” of the family, never judged anyone and was always supportive.
“Max was Max – I called him Dad but everyone else including his grandkids called him Max,” she said.
Ms Sidney said uncle Brian Sidney was always seen standing next to her father in photos.
“There’s not many photos of just Dad because he was with his boat crew and there were always five of them in the photo – those guys are very close,” she said.
Wilson Cregan, former surf boat mate at Ballina Lighthouse and Lismore SLSC, said Mr Sidney was an “unassuming man”, who always put others before himself.
“It was not about Max, it was about his crews or the training or his work,” Mr Cregan said.
He said Mr Sidney was simply “the best”.
An award-winning surf life saving instructor, examiner, and competitor, Mr Sidney served as vice president of the Ballina Lighthouse and Lismore SLSCs from 1978-1982.
He was boat captain for 26 years and held numerous roles, from chief instructor to first aid officer.
As a life member of the Ballina SLSC since 1984, Max also served with the wider North Coast branch as district supervisor for a decade.
Mr Cregan said Mr Sidney’s attention to detail and preparation was “impeccable”.
He said his friend was “so free with his time”, always happy to help, and a “first class human being”.
Surf boat rower and Ballina Shire Council Deputy Mayor Eoin Johnston knew Mr Sidney as a boat sweep during his own time with South Narrabeen at the South West Rocks NSW championships in the 1960s.
“The Ballina crew with Wilson Cregan, Gary Davis, Darcy Morrow and Warren Tulk won the open boat final in challenging surf, beating the Australian champs, Freshwater,” he said.
Mr Johnston said he could not believe selectors did not pick Ballina after Mr Sidney steered the crew to win the open boat at South Port in South Australia in 1967 – and repeated the feat over the next two years at Elouera and Clifton Beach, near Hobart.
Mr Sidney’s last major surf boat win was steering the Ballina reserve crew of Warren Tulk, Lance Goldsmith, Bob Clay and Eoin Johnston to victory at the 1978 NSW Championships at Bondi.
Mr Johnston said “Max was ahead of his time with the delicate art of surfboat rowing.”
“In the ‘60s, when boaties were often big boofy footballers who enjoyed a drink or six, Max, a teetotaller, didn’t encourage over indulgence,” he said.
“He won the Aussies with a formula of reliable, lightweight and extremely fit young local residents who trained hard and often under the stopwatch, in the Wilson River at Lismore.”
The councillor said Mr Sidney was legendary “clubby’ and a kind and caring man.
“He will be sorely missed by all who were fortunate enough to have crossed his path,” Mr Johnston said.
Darcy Morrow rode with Mr Sidney and Wilson Cregan in the ‘60s.
On being selected to represent Australia at Durban, South Africa and New Zealand, Mr Sidney told Mr Morrow it was because he was part of the “greatest crew that rowed a boat”.
“When they got inducted into the Australian Hall of Fame Max was very proud because the team got selected together,” he said.
Mr Morrow said Mr Sidney was also a “renowned fisherman and would “fish all over the place”.
He became an active member of the local OzFish Unlimited branch and would take trips around the country to wet a line in the best spots.
Mr Sidney’s sporting prowess included footy too, among other pursuits.
“He was in premiership winning rugby league teams, he played squash – there wasn’t anything he couldn’t do,” Mr Morrow said.
As Mr Sidney’s health deteriorated, Mr Morrow would visit him at St Andrews, Ballina.
Mr Sidney’s son Andrew Sidney was driving his dad around town to share fruit pie and ice cream and to chat about Mr Morrow’s latest news.
Mr Morrow said to his mate: “You will be missed by many. You are a legend.”
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