BOULDER CITY FOOTBALL CLUB · EST. 1896
MAX VISKOVICH
THE MAN WHO NEVER FORGOT
TIGER SNAPSHOT
ERA
1955 - Decades of Service
CLUB CONTRIBUTION
Life Member #71 — 1991
Max Viskovich Medal Namesake
Supporters' Club Founder
Long-serving Club Sponsor
100+ Players Sponsored
Player Recruitment & Support
1986 Premiership Recruitment
TIGER LEGACY
The Man Who Never Forgot
CLUB CONTRIBUTION
Explore the honours that shaped Max Viskocich's contribution to the club
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BOULDER CITY FOOTBALL CLUB
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1991
BCFC League FB Award
1986
A LETTER THAT CHANGED HIS LIFE
From a small Croatian village to a family home in Boulder — the beginnings of a lifetime built on loyalty, gratitude and friendship. Long before Max Viskovich became one of the Boulder City Football Club's most respected and influential supporters, he was a young migrant from Croatia trying to find his place in a new country. Born in 1938 in Tučepi, a small coastal village in Croatia, Max's early life was a world away from the goldmines, football grounds and motor dealerships that would eventually become such important parts of his story. He came to Australia with his father, bringing with him the hopes and uncertainties familiar to so many migrant families seeking a new beginning. For the first 17 months, Max lived in Roleystone, in the hills outside Perth. But his future would be shaped by a decision that took considerable courage.
He wrote a letter to his aunt in Kalgoorlie.
ROOM FOR ONE MORE?
Max knew that his aunt and uncle, members of the Lalich family, already had five children of their own. Nevertheless, he wrote asking whether they might be prepared to take him into their home. It was a simple request, but one that would change the course of his life. The answer was yes. At the corner of Lane and Forrest Streets in Boulder, Max found more than a roof over his head. He found a family.
The Lalich household was already a busy one, but Max was welcomed as one of their own. His five cousins — Max, Tony, Boris, Kevin and Sonia — became the brothers and sister he would treasure throughout his life. Max had received no formal schooling in Australia, so learning English became a family affair. His cousins became his teachers. Through everyday conversations, shared experiences and the patience of those around him, he gradually found his voice in his adopted country.There were no formal lessons or classrooms. Just a family prepared to help a young newcomer find his feet. Decades later, when recalling those early years, Max still spoke of his cousins as his brothers and sisters. To him, they were, and remained, the salt of the earth.
A DEBT OF GRATITUDE NEVER FORGOTTEN
There is something particularly revealing about the way Max remembers the Lalich family. For all the success he would later enjoy in business, and for all the contributions he would make to the Boulder Tigers, his recollections continually returned to the people who had helped him when he needed it most. He never forgot that his aunt and uncle had opened their home to him. He never forgot the cousins who helped him learn English. And he never forgot the kindness that allowed a young migrant to feel he truly belonged. Those experiences helped shape a philosophy that would guide much of his adult life. People first. Loyalty always. Look after your mates.These were not simply words Max liked to repeat. They became principles reflected in his business dealings, his friendships and his extraordinary commitment to the Boulder City Football Club.
FINDING HIS FEET ON THE GOLDFIELDS
Life in Boulder was not without its challenges. Max had to learn a new language, adapt to a different culture and establish himself in a community where hard work was part of everyday life. His early employment included tractor driving, rigging, painting machinery and work associated with the mining industry. It was practical, demanding work, far removed from the successful motor dealership he would later help lead. But the young Max was learning lessons that would serve him well. He was discovering the value of hard work, the importance of personal relationships and the strength of a community where people looked after one another. And somewhere along the way, another lifelong attachment was beginning to take hold. The Boulder Tigers.
THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING SPECIAL
It would be easy to tell the Max Viskovich story through his business achievements, his financial support of the Tigers or his remarkable involvement in recruiting Stephen Michael for the 1986 premiership season. But to understand those later chapters, we must first understand the young man who wrote that letter. A young man who asked for a chance. A family who gave him one. And a lifetime spent remembering their generosity. In years to come, Max would become known for giving people opportunities, helping footballers find their feet and supporting a club that meant the world to him. Perhaps none of that should surprise us. After all, Max Viskovich knew from personal experience just how much difference one act of kindness could make. The Lalich family opened their door to Max. Max spent a lifetime opening doors for others.
£180, TWO KEGS AND A LESSON FOR LIFE
The punt, the party and the people who helped shape one of Boulder's great characters. Max Viskovich was never going to be an ordinary bloke. He loved people, enjoyed a laugh, appreciated a good wager and possessed the sort of personality that made him memorable wherever he went. There was a mischievous side to Max, too. He enjoyed the company of his mates, was never short of an opinion and had a passion for the Boulder Tigers that bordered on the incurable. But behind the colourful character was a young man still learning some of life's most important lessons. And one of those lessons came at a considerable price.
£180 — GONE!
As his 21st birthday approached, Max had been putting money aside for a celebration. He had worked hard, saved diligently and accumulated the substantial sum of £180. It was money intended for a birthday party — an opportunity to celebrate with the people who had become such an important part of his life in Boulder. Unfortunately, Max had another interest. The punt. And on this occasion, the punt won. In his podcast recollections, Max makes no attempt to disguise what happened. “180 pounds. Blew the lot!” Every penny of his hard-earned savings was gone. The birthday celebrations were approaching, the money had disappeared, and Max was left facing the consequences of his own enthusiasm. For a young man who had worked so hard to establish himself in Australia, it was an expensive lesson. But what happened next would stay with him for the rest of his life.
TWO MEN WHO WOULDN'T LET HIM DOWN
Jack O'Rourke and Dick Haythornwaite were two men who recognised that the young Max needed a helping hand — and perhaps a few words of wisdom. Jack, in particular, delivered a message that Max would remember. Pull yourself together. There was no great lecture about the dangers of gambling, nor any suggestion that Max should be excused from taking responsibility for his mistake. Instead, the two men offered him something far more valuable. A second chance. They agreed to lend Max £30 so that his birthday celebrations could go ahead. There was, however, one important condition. He had to pay the money back. It was an arrangement built on trust, responsibility and the belief that a young man could learn from his mistakes. And Max was determined not to let them down.
THE SHOW MUST GO ON
Thirty pounds might not have replaced the £180 Max had lost, but it was enough to rescue the occasion. Two 18-gallon kegs of beer were purchased, along with plenty of food. The party was back on. And what a celebration it must have been. The young Croatian migrant who had arrived in Australia with little more than hope and determination was now surrounded by the friends and families who had welcomed him into their community. The show went on, and Max recalled that the expenses were ultimately covered through the contributions of others. What had begun as a financial disaster became another enduring lesson in friendship and generosity. The story was not simply about a young bloke losing his birthday money. It was about two men who saw something worthwhile in him. Men prepared to offer support, but equally determined that Max should understand the importance of honouring a commitment. Jack O'Rourke and Dick Haythornwaite had given him more than a loan. They had given him a lesson in life.
A CHARACTER WITH A BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY
As the years passed, Max would carry those experiences into his working life. His early employment had taken him through tractor driving, rigging, painting machinery and mining-related work. Eventually, his career led him into the motor trade, where he became manager of Auto Villa Toyota and developed into one of the Goldfields' well-known business personalities. Max understood something about customers that went beyond the price of a motor car. People remembered how they were treated. His philosophy was simple. If you keep giving something back, people will keep coming back. And Max had some memorable ways of putting that philosophy into practice. A customer purchasing a car might find a carton of beer thrown into the deal. Perhaps a full tank of petrol. And a full warranty to provide peace of mind. It was Max's way of doing business. He understood that a successful transaction was not simply about selling a vehicle. It was about building a relationship that might last for years. The same loyalty he valued in his friendships became a guiding principal in his professional life. Look after people. Give them a fair go. And never forget the people who have supported you.
B BEFORE K — ALWAYS!
There was, however, one loyalty that Max never had any difficulty explaining. His beloved Boulder Tigers. For Max, football allegiance was not something to be negotiated. It was part of his identity. And he had a wonderfully simple way of settling any argument about the relative merits of Boulder and Kalgoorlie. “B comes before K in the alphabet!” Boulder before Kalgoorlie. That was Max's motto. It was the sort of cheeky declaration that fitted perfectly into the fierce football rivalries of the Goldfields.
In the Viskovich and Lalich circles, football loyalties could generate plenty of banter, particularly when Boulder and the Diorites were involved. The arguments might have been spirited, but they were part of the friendships, family connections and community traditions that made Goldfields football so special. Max was a tragic Tiger supporter. He wore his loyalty proudly, defended his club passionately and never needed much encouragement to remind anyone where Boulder belonged in the local pecking order. Right at the top. Alphabetically, at least!
THE LESSONS THAT LASTED
Looking back, the story of Max's 21st birthday says a great deal about the man he would become. He had made a mistake. He had lost a considerable amount of money. But rather than allowing the experience to define him, he remembered the people who helped him recover. Jack O'Rourke and Dick Haythornwaite had shown faith in a young man who needed some guidance. Their generosity came with responsibility, and Max never forgot the lesson.
In the years ahead, he would become a successful businessman, a generous football sponsor and a man who helped countless others find opportunities.Perhaps that willingness to give people a chance was shaped by the chances he had been given himself. First by the Lalich family. Then by two men who helped rescue a 21st birthday celebration. And eventually by a community that Max would spend much of his life supporting. He lost £180 on the punt. But the lessons he gained were worth considerably more.
WARMING THE BENCH
One season in the juniors. A handful of B Grade appearances. And a lifetime of devotion to the Black and Gold. Not every young footballer who pulls on the Boulder jumper is destined for greatness. Some become premiership players. Others develop into outstanding clubmen. A fortunate few go on to achieve recognition at the highest levels of the game. And then there was Max Viskovich. Max's recollections of his own football career are wonderfully uncomplicated. He wasn't about to exaggerate his achievements, invent a few spectacular marks or suggest that the selectors had somehow overlooked a champion. In fact, he was more inclined to laugh about how much time he spent sitting on the bench. But that was Max. Never afraid to tell a story, particularly when he was the one providing the punchline.
1955 — A YOUNG TIGER HAS A CRACK
Max first tried his hand at football with the Boulder juniors in 1955. He was a young Croatian migrant still finding his feet in Australia, learning the language and becoming increasingly immersed in the life of his adopted community. And in Boulder, football was very much part of that life. The Tigers were more than a sporting club. They were a gathering place for families, friends and generations of local supporters. For a young bloke eager to belong, pulling on the Black and Gold was something special. Max managed a season in the juniors before later making a handful of appearances in the B Grade. It was hardly the beginning of a celebrated playing career. But Max remembered those days with considerable affection.
FORTY-FIVE BLOKES AND ONE FOOTBALL TEAM
Competition for selection was fierce. Max recalled that as many as 45 to 50 hopefuls could be chasing a place in the side. There were plenty of willing footballers and only so many positions available. Simply making the team was an achievement. And getting selected as the 19th or 20th man? Well, that was something worth celebrating! Of course, football was a very different game in those days. The modern interchange system had yet to arrive. The reserves were there to replace players, not rotate freely on and off the ground. For those waiting on the sidelines, an afternoon could pass without much opportunity to demonstrate their football ability. Max knew the experience well. He spent plenty of time warming the pine. And judging by the way he recalled those afternoons many years later, he had long since accepted that his greatest contribution to Boulder football would not come from his performances on the field.
FOOTBALL WAS A FAMILY AFFAIR
By the late 1950s and into the 1960s, Max was becoming part of the colourful social fabric surrounding Goldfields football. The Viskovich, Lalich and Vujcich families were among those whose football loyalties generated plenty of lively discussion. Some were passionate Tigers. Others threw their support behind the Diorites. And when football entered the conversation, family relationships offered little protection from a well-directed piece of banter. Max was never likely to sit quietly through an argument about the relative merits of the local clubs. He had already settled that question to his own satisfaction. B came before K in the alphabet. Boulder before Kalgoorlie. And there was little point trying to convince him otherwise. These were the days when football rivalries extended well beyond the boundary fence. They were discussed in homes, workplaces, pubs and around family tables. The arguments could be spirited, but beneath the banter lay the friendships and family connections that helped make Goldfields football such an important part of community life. For Max, the Tigers were becoming an inseparable part of that life.
THE GAME WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING
Max's football ambitions might have been modest, but his attachment to the Boulder City Football Club was growing stronger. He understood the importance of the people around a football club. The volunteers. The supporters. The families who turned up week after week. The people who found the money, organised the activities, encouraged the players and remained loyal when victories were difficult to find. They were just as much a part of the club as the footballers who ran onto the ground. And Max was discovering that there were plenty of ways to make a contribution without being one of the first eighteen selected. His enthusiasm, personality and growing circle of friends would eventually help him become one of the club's most influential supporters. In time, he would help organise supporters, sponsor footballers and play an important role in recruiting players who would change the club's fortunes. But in those early days, he was simply Max.
FAMILY, FRIENDSHIP AND A WRONG TURN THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
Marica and Marinko Lalich were much more than an aunt and uncle to Max Viskovich. They became his second set of parents, welcoming the young Croatian migrant into their Boulder home and giving him the love, security and sense of belonging that would shape the rest of his life. Max never forgot their generosity, nor the five Lalich children he came to regard as his own brothers and sisters. And when it came to finding love, fate — helped along by a little Goldfields mischief — had a hand to play. One evening, Max and his great Tiger mate Charlie Edmonds were supposed to attend a 21st birthday celebration in Piccadilly Street, Kalgoorlie. But somehow, the pair took a wrong turn. Instead of heading straight to the birthday party, they decided to visit the top three pubs in Hannan Street. It proved to be a particularly fortunate detour.
Their evening eventually led them to the Kalgoorlie bowling alley, where Max met a young woman named Lillian. And, as they say, the rest is history.
On 27 January 1968, Max and Lillian were married. What began as a night out with a mate became the beginning of a lifelong family story.
For a man who valued loyalty, friendship and family above almost everything else, it was perhaps fitting that one of the most important relationships of his life began with a little adventure, a few unexpected stops and a chance meeting. Max and Charlie might have missed the intended destination that evening, but Max certainly found something worth keeping.
Life Membership. In 1991, Max Viskovich became Boulder City Life Member #71. It was recognition not for what he had achieved during his handful of games, but for everything he had given the club in the years that followed. The young footballer who once struggled to get off the bench would become a man whose name was permanently woven into the club's history. And perhaps that is the most fitting part of the story. Max Viskovich might not have been one of Boulder's greatest players. But he would become one of its great Tigers.
THE SUPPORTERS' CLUB — MORE THAN JUST FOOTBALL
During an era when the Tigers experienced their share of difficult seasons, Max recognised the importance of keeping supporters involved. He helped establish the Boulder supporters' club, bringing together a colourful collection of Tiger personalities whose friendships extended well beyond Sunday afternoons. Among the names Max fondly recalls were Boris, Ginger Galbraith, Bob Parker, Peter Palmer and Crow Honey. They were the sort of blokes who made a football club feel like a family. There was plenty of banter, a good deal of laughter and no shortage of opinions about how the Tigers should be playing. These were not fair-weather supporters. They were Tiger people. The kind who kept coming back when the scoreboard offered little encouragement. The kind who understood that football clubs needed more than good players to survive. A football club was only as strong as the people prepared to stand behind it.
THROUGH THE GOOD YEARS AND THE BAD
Max's memories of the period from 1959 through to 1977 reflect an era when the Tigers experienced both disappointment and moments of considerable promise. He remembered the players, the personalities, the arguments and the occasions that remained talking points decades later. One such occasion was the 1969 Grand Final. For Max, the controversy surrounding the final siren was something he never forgot. In his recollection, the Tigers had been robbed. It was the sort of football injustice that could keep supporters arguing for generations. And Max was hardly the type to let a matter like that disappear quietly into history.
A BUSINESSMAN WHO BELIEVED IN GIVING BACK
As Max's career in the motor industry developed, so too did his capacity to help the football club he loved His association with Auto Villa Toyota provided opportunities to support the Tigers in ways that went far beyond attending matches. Max was a businessman who understood the value of relationships. He believed that people remembered generosity, appreciated being treated fairly and responded to genuine loyalty. His business philosophy was straightforward. Keep giving something back, and people will keep coming back. It was an approach that served him well in the motor trade. Max was never content to simply watch from the sidelines when the club needed assistance. If a player needed an opportunity, he would see what could be done. If recruiting needed a helping hand, he was prepared to become involved. If the club needed financial support, Max was willing to contribute. He was not alone in those efforts, and that was something he never forgot. The friendships and relationships he developed throughout the Goldfields helped make his contributions possible. For Max, helping the Tigers was not simply a matter of writing a cheque. It was about using whatever resources, contacts and opportunities were available to make the club stronger.
SOMETIMES LOYALTY IS TESTED
By the middle of the 1980s, Boulder City was approaching one of the most difficult periods in its history. The Tigers had endured twenty-four consecutive defeats across the 1984 and 1985 seasons. For a club with such a proud tradition, it was a bitter experience. And with the 90th anniversary approaching in 1986, there was an understandable desire to restore some pride to the Black and Gold. The club needed fresh talent. It needed renewed confidence. And it needed people prepared to do something extraordinary. Max Viskovich was one of those people. Over many years, he had developed the friendships, business connections and recruiting experience that could now make a significant difference. He had helped bring players to the club before. But what lay ahead would be unlike anything the Tigers had previously experienced. A conversation with Bob Turner would help crystallise the challenge. The Tigers didn't need Toyota Corollas. They needed a Toyota Crown. Something special. Something capable of changing the club's fortunes. And Max, a passionate South Fremantle supporter, knew of one footballer who fitted that description perfectly. His name was Stephen Michael.
THE TOYOTA CROWN RECRUITMENT
Twenty-four consecutive defeats. A secret approach. A dual Sandover Medallist. And a remarkable premiership in Boulder's 90th anniversary year. By the end of 1985, the Boulder City Football Club had reached one of the lowest points in its proud history. The Tigers had endured twenty-four consecutive defeats across two seasons. For a club accustomed to competing fiercely for premiership honours, the results were difficult to accept. Supporters who had followed the Black and Gold through generations of Goldfields football were desperate for a change in fortune. And there was another reason why the approaching season carried such significance. 1986 would mark the Boulder Tigers' 90th anniversary. The club needed something special. Something that would restore belief, attract quality footballers and give the Tigers a genuine opportunity to return to the top. Max Viskovich was about to play a remarkable part in making it happen.
WE DON'T NEED COROLLAS — WE NEED A CROWN!
The story begins with a conversation Max recalled involving Bob Turner. The message was wonderfully simple. The Tigers didn't need Toyota Corollas. They needed a Toyota Crown. For a man whose working life revolved around the motor trade, the comparison was impossible to misunderstand. Boulder didn't simply need a few more footballers. It needed quality. It needed experience. It needed someone capable of making an immediate difference. And Max, a passionate South Fremantle supporter, had a particular footballer in mind. Stephen Michael.
THE CHAMPION FROM SOUTH FREMANTLE
By the mid-1980s, Stephen Michael had established himself as one of the greatest footballers in Western Australian history. A magnificent ruckman, Michael possessed an extraordinary combination of strength, athleticism, skill and football intelligence. He had won the Sandover Medal in 1980 and again in 1981. His performances for South Fremantle had earned him enormous respect throughout the football world. Despite opportunities to pursue a career in the Victorian Football League, Michael had remained loyal to Western Australian football. For most country football clubs, recruiting a player of his standing would have seemed little more than a dream. He admired his football. And, as a devoted South Fremantle supporter, he had followed the champion's career with particular interest. Max decided to approach him directly. It was a bold move. And one that would become part of Boulder Tiger folklore.
THE CLANDESTINE RECRUITMENT
The negotiations were conducted quietly. Max understood that securing a player of Stephen Michael's standing was not something to be discussed openly before the arrangements were in place. There was also the matter of timing. The transfer deadline was approaching rapidly. What followed was a carefully managed effort to complete the necessary arrangements before the window closed. Max was the driving force behind the approach, but he was not working alone. Harold Harper and Max's daughter, Vanessa, undertook the detailed work involved in arranging Michael's transfer. Their contribution deserves recognition in a story that has understandably become closely associated with Max. The process was discreet, the timing critical and the stakes considerable. And they made it. The transfer was completed just before the deadline. The Boulder Tigers had secured the services of one of the finest footballers Western Australia had ever produced. But there was another part of the arrangement that made the story particularly memorable.
WASHING CARS ON SATURDAY. FOOTBALL ON SUNDAY.
Max had found a practical way to make the recruitment work. He employed Stephen Michael at Auto Villa Toyota. The arrangement involved Michael flying to Kalgoorlie for the weekend, working at the dealership on Saturday and then playing football for Boulder on game day.And what was the champion footballer's Saturday assignment? Washing cars. It is an image that deserves a special place in the history of Goldfields football. Stephen Michael — dual Sandover Medallist, South Fremantle champion and one of the most celebrated players in Western Australian football — washing cars at Auto Villa before pulling on the Boulder jumper. There was something wonderfully Australian about it. A country football club determined to rebuild. A local businessman prepared to use his resources and connections. And a champion footballer willing to become part of the arrangement. The same man who had spent his early football days warming the bench had now helped bring a genuine superstar to Boulder Oval.
And the Tigers were about to experience a remarkable transformation.
1986 — THE TIGERS ROAR AGAIN
What followed became one of the most celebrated seasons in Boulder City's history. After twenty-four consecutive defeats across 1984 and 1985, the Tigers completed an extraordinary turnaround.Boulder City became the 1986 Goldfields Football League premiers. And the timing could hardly have been more fitting. In the club's 90th anniversary year, the Black and Gold were back on top. For the players, coaches, officials and supporters, it was a magnificent achievement. For Max Viskovich, it was the reward for years of unwavering loyalty and a willingness to help when his beloved club needed it most. The Stephen Michael recruitment would become one of the defining stories of that premiership campaign. But Max never regarded football clubs as the work of one individual. He understood the importance of the people who contributed behind the scenes. The administrators who handled the arrangements. The sponsors who provided support. The volunteers who kept the club functioning. And the loyal supporters who never stopped believing. The 1986 premiership belonged to all of them.
MORE THAN A RECRUITING COUP
It would be easy to remember Max Viskovich simply as the man who brought Stephen Michael to Boulder. After all, it was an extraordinary achievement. But to do so would overlook the much broader contribution he made throughout his association with the Tigers. Max recalled sponsoring hundreds of footballers over the years. He helped establish a supporters' club. He contributed financially, used his business connections to create opportunities and remained involved through good seasons and bad.
A NAME THAT LIVES ON
In 1991, Max Viskovich was recognised with Life Membership of the Boulder City Football Club. Life Member #71. It was a fitting acknowledgement of decades of service, generosity and commitment to the Black and Gold. But the club would find another way to ensure his contribution remained part of its history. Its annual Fairest and Best award would carry his name. The Max Viskovich Medal. Each season, as the club recognises its outstanding footballer, the award also honours a man whose greatest achievements came beyond the boundary line.
THE MAN WHO NEVER FORGOT
There is something particularly fitting about the way Max Viskovich's story comes full circle. As a young Croatian migrant, he wrote a letter asking whether his aunt and uncle in Kalgoorlie might have room for him in their family. They did. The Lalich family welcomed him, taught him English and gave him a place to belong. When Max lost his hard-earned savings before his 21st birthday, Jack O'Rourke and Dick Haythornwaite helped him recover from his mistake. They offered him a second chance and taught him the importance of honouring his word. Those experiences stayed with him.
In business, Max believed that looking after people was the foundation of success. In football, he believed that loyalty and opportunity were just as important as talent. And when the Boulder Tigers needed help, Max was prepared to give whatever he could. His money. His time. His friendships. His business connections. And his unwavering belief in the Black and Gold. The young footballer who once struggled to get off the bench had become one of the club's great off-field contributors. And perhaps that is the most remarkable part of the Max Viskovich story. He never needed to be the best footballer on the ground to become one of the most important Tigers beyond it. The Lalich family opened their door to Max. Max spent a lifetime opening doors for others. And the Boulder City Football Club ensured that his name would never be forgotten.
MAX VISKOVICH
Born 1938 — Tučepi, Croatia
Boulder City Life Member #71 — 1991
Namesake of the Max Viskovich Medal
A lifetime of loyalty. A remarkable contribution. Forever a Tiger.
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