Maxwell Wallace "Max" HOPPER

Maxwell Wallace "Max" HOPPER

HOPPER, Maxwell Wallace O.A.M. 1930-2020

Max was born in Byron Bay in 1930 and was the second youngest of seven children. He met his future wife Joyce on her first day at the University of New England when he carried her bags from the station. He completed his Science degree followed by a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of New England. Max enjoyed an exemplary career in education and played a major role in the establishment of distance education at UNE as the University's Assistant Director and then Acting Director of External studies. At the time, UNE led Australia and the world in the development of modern post-war university distance education. This type of education provided the first and often only opportunity in Australia for many working adults - and especially woman - to undertake university degrees. Maxwell Hopper was appointed by the United Nations to be foundation director of External Studies at the University of Zambia in Lusaka. Upon his return to Australia Max was appointed as the founding Director of the Gippsland Institute for Advanced Education (now Monash University Gippsland) In this role Max was responsible for the establishment, development and management of the new Institute, where he introduced distance education programs to meet the needs of students outside the metropolitan area. He was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his services to education in 2002. Max also developed a successful beef cattle stud in Gippsland before he retired to Inverloch with Joyce. In later years Max and Joyce relocated to Kingscliff where he became an active member ofthe community. Max was married to Joyce, the love of his life, for over 60 years and he is survived by Joyce, his three children, Bill, Jane and Kate and Grandchildren Jack, Zara, Alex, Jack and Lucy. Max passed away peacefully on September 7 2020, aged 89 years, and will be missed by all who knew and loved him.