OBITUARY
Maxwell (Max) John Anstis
11-7-1928 / 2-7-2013
WELL-known electrician and community volunteer Max Anstis, who
died on July 2, will long be remembered for his 30 years of volunteer
work with Springvale Benevolent Society.
Mr Anstis, 84, a former president of the organisation, regularly
picked up and delivered second-hand furniture and mattresses to needy
families.
His wife, Margaret, said growing up during the Depression motivated him to help others.
“We knew what it was like not to afford this and not to afford that,” she said. “Society could always do with more helpers.”
Mr Anstis started Anstis Electrics in his parents’ backyard in
Springvale more than 60 years ago and, as the region became more
populated, he connected local market gardens and poultry farms to the
electricity grid. The family business continues under Mr Anstis’ nephew,
John Beaumont.
Mr Anstis’ interests included camping and bushwalking at Wilsons
Promontory, world travel, Sunday church, ballroom dancing and, in his
retirement years, crafting wooden desks and bookshelves.
As a teenager, he met his wife-to-be at the regular weekend dances
at the Mechanics Institute hall, like many in the early 1950s.
He and Margaret, married for 59 years, shared a love of dancing, tennis, travel and the outdoors.
“We loved travelling – we went to New Zealand, China, America,
Europe, Hawaii, Vanuatu. We were lucky to do that,” Mrs Anstis said.
Until three years ago, the couple attended regular Saturday dances at Bangholme and Nar Nar Goon North.
Their sons, Stuart, Clark and Phillip, have four children between them.
“He was very caring and concerned about people,” Mrs Anstis said.
“His sons learnt from him to go and do your work. He instilled a work
ethic.”
A funeral service was held in Noble Park last Tuesday.
