It is with profound sadness that the Rotary Club of Canberra East recently lost a long-time member with the passing of Rotarian Norman Maxwell (Max) Hill OAM, MPHF.
Max was an active Rotarian for over 50 years. He commenced his Rotary journey in the Rotary Club of Canberra including a term as the Club’s President. In the mid 1960’s he became a member of the then newly formed Rotary Club of Canberra East. His Rotary service interests were wide and varied and he played an active role in all Club activities and projects. Max was especially enthused by projects involving youth development and leadership, particularly the establishment of the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards and the selection of suitable attendees. He was instrumental in establishing the Greenhills Centre at the Cotter Reserve close to Canberra and in fostering the Centre’s early involvement with Rotary.
NORMAN MAXWELL (MAX) HILL OAM, MPHF
Max was born in Queanbeyan in 1919. His family were market gardeners in Pialligo, supplying fresh fruit and vegetables to the early, but growing Canberra population.
Max was an active Rotarian for over 50 years. He commenced his Rotary journey in the Rotary Club of Canberra including a term as the Club’s President. In the mid 1960’s he became a member of the then newly formed Rotary Club of Canberra East. His Rotary service interests were wide and varied and he played an active role in all Club activities and projects.
Max was especially enthused by projects involving youth development and leadership, particularly the establishment of the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards and the selection of suitable attendees. He was instrumental in establishing the Greenhills Centre at the Cotter Reserve close to Canberra and in fostering the Centre’s early involvement with Rotary. Today the Centre continues to recognise Rotary’s contributions to learning and development that was encouraged by Max with meeting rooms named with acknowledgements to Rotary.
Max had many passions. His wife Zeta was clearly at the centre of his life and the Canberra East Club always enjoyed her company at special events. Their arrival at functions always seemed a ‘regal’ affair with people gravitating to their side and wanting to acknowledge Zeta’s presence. Zeta and Max were married for 78 years with Zeta passing away in 2015 at the age of 98. Other passions included his church, his broader family, his vocation, the development of the Greenhills Conference Centre at the Cotter Reserve, Rotary and hockey. Max was Hockey ACT’s longest serving member. He started playing in 1933, played at the highest level and later became an umpire and administrator for both the ACT and NSW Hockey Associations. Somehow, he managed to intertwine all these interests.
Max Hill embodied Rotary values and ideals. His service to the Rotary Foundation and to the Rotary Club of Canberra East was recognised in 1979 and again in 1998 with the award of a Paul Harris Fellow. In 2007 Max was made an Alf Gillespie Fellow, a Club award recognising his outstanding and sustained contribution across all avenues of service within the Rotary Club of Canberra East. Both awards recognise the enormous contribution he made to the broader community through Rotary service and the esteem in which he was held by all.
The Rotary Club of Canberra East is very grateful for the many forms of Rotary service given by Max Hill. We are particularly grateful for the sense of camaraderie he inspired when working together, the considered and calm wisdom he offered, the personal values he espoused and the fellowship we enjoyed with him each Rotary evening for over 50 years.
A Rotarian and gentleman who will be sadly missed.
Above image: Max Hill celebrated his 100th birthday in 2019. Hockey was always a passion. Photo: Karleen Minney