State sport award for Max Wells
Leadership material: Max Wells on Inverloch’s main surf beach, where he has spent much of his time.
INVERLOCH surfing legend and Surfing Victoria’s Executive Director Max Wells has been recognised for his leadership at the Victorian Sports Awards held last Thursday.
He was slightly taken aback by the win, but was happy with the award nonetheless.
“I am honoured to receive this award and am proud of what we have achieved at Surfing Victoria,” Max said.
Max has been involved with Surfing Victoria for more than 20 years, with 11 of them in his current role as Executive Director.
And while a modest Max was quick to point out it doesn’t put him in the same category as sporting champion Cadel Evans, who won the award, it certainly meant a lot to be up on stage with him.
“To be up there getting an award on the same night was certainly very cool,” he said.
The award, created in 1987, was named the Eunice Gill award for sports management in recognition of Miss Gill’s outstanding service to sport, both as an administrator and active
participant.
Max’s achievements include developing an indigenous surfing program, which has been in place for 11 years.
Surfing Victoria has been actively providing leadership and employment opportunities as further development pathways through the Indigenous Surfing Program.
Max’s vision of the Indigenous Surfing Program has led to the employment of two full-time indigenous officers at Surfing Victoria.
He has also worked closely with the Victorian Government on the Play It Safe by the Water campaign since its inception and has more recently partnered up Championship Moves, the Government’s latest initiative to curb alcohol fuelled violence.
The campaign is anchored in personal choice and advocates that young men need to take responsibility for their mates.
Max is also responsible for the running of the Rip Curl Pro, which has been one of Victoria’s great sports institutions in the past 40 years.
The event has continued to grow under Max’s watchful eye.
And when asked whether the award would have any effect on the way he went about his business, the laid back surf lover had a simple response: “I don’t know about that. I’m too old to change.”
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