Community
31 July, 2026
Standing room only for Max
IT was standing room only, with at least 800 people gathering at St Monica’s Cathedral to farewell beloved former regional councillor, sports identity, family man and friend to many – Max ‘Maxie’ O’Halloran – on Monday.
At the requiem Mass, Bishop Joe Caddy said the large numbers in the cathedral were “a testament” to Mr O’Halloran for “a really good life, lived well”.
“We today acknowledge Max, his role with his family, Shae, Carol, with the community and his contribution to the great AFL game,” he said.
A short 74 years
Close friend Marshall Betzel, who gave the eulogy, said in Mr O’Halloran’s short 74 years “our beloved Max made the most of his time with us, touching lives, making memories and building a legacy”.
“As Dave O’Halloran, his cousin, quite rightly pointed out in his Facebook tribute, Maxie had placed a finger on every person he ever met and made an impact on so many lives,” he said.
“While I still can’t quite grasp how it is that I’m here today, and we’re all here in this cathedral, it’s nonetheless an honour and privilege to share with you memories of this most marvellous, beautiful, lovely man.
“Today is about celebration and Max would expect us to focus on joy, not sadness.
“He lived with passion and understanding, laughed easily and made us all feel like we were the most important person in the world – and made every gathering and occasion that much brighter.
“So, let’s begin with the early years, Max William Charles Angus Waterbury O’Halloran. Most of those names don’t appear on his birth certificate. They were self-bestowed by Max himself.”
Mr O’Halloran was born in Smithton, Tasmania, on 20 May 1952.
Working class hero
“So, Max was the product of a typical working-class family, which explains his ability to relate easily to everyone he met, regardless of their position or social status,” Mr Betzel said.
In 1970, at the age of 17, Mr O’Halloran left home and headed to Alveston, Tasmania, where he played football for the Alveston under-19s. He spent three years working on the hydro scheme.
He was then recruited by Footscray Football Club for two seasons followed by two VFL seasons at Carlton.
Mr O’Halloran later worked in Darwin, post-Cyclone Tracey, and then Brisbane before finally moving to Cairns in about 1978.
He joined South Football Club for one season before moving across to North Cairns Tigers in 1979. He played for North Cairns and they won the premiership in 1980 and 1984. He went on to coach North Cairns to a premiership victory in 1985. He then coached Cairns Saints, becoming head coach in the early 1990s and winning the 1995 premiership.
In the 1980s he entered the seafood business and later started Tidal Seafood Trawlers at Portsmith, as a trawler agent and seafood marketer with 40-plus trawlers and fishing boats under his management.
His sporting involvement included the Cairns Golf Club and as president of the Cairns Jockey Club, until 2005, during which it became profitable.
He served on the board of AFL Cairns from 1998 to 2007. He was awarded life membership of AFL Cairns and the North Cairns Football Club. In 2011, he received the merit award from AFL Queensland for his services to the game.
Landslide election victory
In 2012 he was elected in a landslide victory to represent division 7 as a regional councillor until he retired in 2024.
“On 15 July, the curtain suddenly closed on a life well and truly lived,” Mr Betzel said.
“His vibrancy tentacled out far and wide throughout the fishing industry, sporting and political worlds,” he said.
“But, more importantly, he represented the true essence of a person who had a great sense of community – and we are all richer for having known him.
“He was a good partner, father, friend and mentor. The most wonderful thing about you, Maxie (also known affectionately as Slapsy), is that none of us will ever be able to sit back and think of you without having a broad smile on our face – and that in itself is a wonderful lesson. Max O’Halloran was a good person. Rest in peace, mate.”
Mr O’Halloran’s partner Carol McLaughlin and daughter Shae O’Halloran, in the Mass booklet, acknowledged “the enormous number of condolence messages received due to Max’s sudden passing”.
“It has been of wonderful support throughout this difficult and sad time and please be assured you are all appreciated,” they said.
“We would also like to acknowledge the first responders and medical professionals who attended to Max on the night he died.
“Our gratitude will be never ending.”
Mr O’Halloran was later privately cremated.
His wake, including live entertainment, was held at one of his favourite venues – Cazalys.
