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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-10-15 Daily Xml
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Basheer AM, Mr M.R.

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. F. Pangallo:

That this council—

1. Mourns the passing of distinguished South Australian National Football League (SANFL) administrator and stalwart, Max Basheer AM;

2. Acknowledges his immense contribution and enduring leadership across nearly 50 years of service to the SANFL, including 25 years as League President and as Chair of the South Australian Football Commission;

3. Recognises his pivotal role in the establishment of Football Park and in securing the entry of the Adelaide Football Club and Port Adelaide Football Club into the Australian Football League (AFL);

4. Acknowledges his long and outstanding career in the legal profession, including his service as honorary solicitor to the South Australian Amateur Football League; and

5. Extends its sincere condolences to Mr Basheer’s daughters, Jayne and Ann, and to the Basheer family on their loss.

(Continued from 17 September 2025.)

The Hon. J.S. LEE (17:49): I rise to honour the life and legacy of Max Basheer AM, a man whose contribution to South Australian football, the law and community life has left a lasting mark on our state. I had the pleasure of meeting Max on a number of occasions and always found him to be very pleasant, such a true gentleman with a great intellect.

Over the course of his nearly 50-year involvement with the South Australian National Football League, including 25 years as league president, Max transformed South Australian football with integrity, foresight and unwavering commitment. Born in Kalangadoo to Lebanese Jewish parents, Max's early life in a country pub instilled in him the values of community resilience and service.

Talking about Kalangadoo, I was travelling to the South-East two years ago and I happened to have a conversation with David Basheer, who is Max's nephew, about a tourism matter. David encouraged me to visit Kalangadoo. He actually did not just encourage me, he said, 'You must drop into Kalangadoo pub, otherwise I will never speak to you again.' It was to show their pride of the birth place as well as a place of pride for the Basheer family.

Kalangadoo, a small town roughly halfway between Mount Gambier and the Coonawarra, was the home and backyard of the Basheer family. It is incredible how a migrant family in a small town turned out to be one of the most successful families who contributed significantly to South Australia.

Those foundation years in Kalangadoo and family values would guide Max throughout his life as a lawyer and football administrator and also a proud South Australian deeply devoted to public life. Admitted to the bar in 1951, Max practised law for 68 years, making him the longest serving lawyer in South Australian history. He was a founding partner of Duncan Basheer Hannan, where he remained a valued member of the firm until his retirement in 2019 at the age of 92 years old.

His wisdom, integrity and generosity shaped generations of lawyers and left a lasting legacy within the legal profession. Beyond his professional achievements, Max was a devoted father and grandfather. He was incredibly proud of his two daughters and his two granddaughters. His eldest daughter, Ann, rose to a senior role at Ansett before retiring to raise her family, while Jayne followed in her father's footstep into the law, becoming a Deputy State Coroner and later a District Court judge. His granddaughters brought him equal pride: one is now a young doctor and the other is pursuing university studies, having already gained management experience in retail.

Though Max was known as a strong and tough figure in football and law, he was a real softy with his girls. His devotion to family was matched only by his commitment to the institutions he helped build. He began his journey in football administration as honorary solicitor to the South Australian Amateur Football League in 1954 and from there rose to become one of the most respected figures in Australian sport.

Among his many achievements, Max played a pivotal role in the establishment of Football Park at West Lakes, a landmark that became the heart of South Australian football for decades. He was also instrumental in securing the entry of both the Adelaide Football Club and Port Adelaide Football Club into the Australian Football League, ensuring South Australia's rightful place on the national stage.

In addition to his leadership off the field, Max was a hugely talented footballer. He had hoped to play for Sturt but was zoned to North Adelaide, which, in true footy fashion, refused to clear him. So Max did what any determined young man would do: he played in the amateur league instead and still earned All Australian honours. In a moment of poetic justice and good humour, North finally granted him clearance at a function celebrating his 70th birthday. All this information was supplied by David Basheer, so I thank him for that. Although it took them half a century, they got there in the end.

Max's leadership extended beyond the boardroom. He was a mentor, a builder of institutions and a guardian of South Australian identity. His name lives on in the Max Basheer Stand at Adelaide Oval, a fitting tribute to a man who gave so much to the game and so much to sport. His legacy lives on not only in the stadiums and clubs that he helped shape but in the lives of the players, administrators and communities he inspired.

As there is continued investment in community sport and youth development in 2025, Max's legacy continues to guide our investment in inclusive, community-driven sports, reminding us that leadership is measured not just in titles but in the lives uplifted. On behalf of my family, I extend our sincere condolences to Mr Basheer's daughters, Jayne and Ann, and to the entire Basheer family. May they find comfort in the knowledge that Max's legacy will continue to echo through our communities, our institutions and our hearts. I commend the motion.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (17:55): I rise today to support this motion and to pay tribute to the extraordinary life of Max Basheer AM. His contribution to football and the law in South Australia will be remembered for generations. Max was a study in determination and dedication to a cause. Born in 1927 to Lebanese immigrant parents, he was educated at Prince Albert College and later the University of Adelaide. Max graduated in law in 1951. He went on to practise law for more than 60 years and was Australia's longest serving solicitor. However, it was his commitment to football administration that made Max Basheer become a household name.

Beginning in 1954, he served as a tribunal commissioner before rising to president of the SANFL, a position he held for 25 years. Max's leadership during this time was one of vision and resilience. He was central to the creation of establishing Football Park at West Lakes, a home ground that served South Australians for more than four decades. He was instrumental in the push for night football, a battle that went all the way to the Supreme Court before finally being won, and he stood firm when the very future of the SANFL was under threat.

Max ensured South Australia not only retained a strong league but also entered the national AFL stage on reasonable terms. He was instrumental in the way the Adelaide Crows and then Port Adelaide became AFL teams. His service was recognised when he was appointed a member of the Order of Australia in 1988 and inducted into both the SANFL and the AFL Halls of Fame.

The stand at Adelaide Oval that bears his name is a fitting memorial to a life of service. Max Basheer embodied what it means to give back to the community. He combined the rigour of the law with a passion for sport, always with the aim of strengthening South Australia. Max Basheer's recent passing gives us pause to celebrate a remarkable legacy. On behalf of the government, I extend condolences to his family, friends and the football community and I place on record our gratitude for his immense contribution to South Australia.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (17:57): As shadow minister for sport, I rise to speak in support of the Hon. Frank Pangallo's motion calling on the council to mourn the passing of distinguished South Australian National Football League Administrator, Max Basheer AM, and in doing so we acknowledge his immense contribution and enduring leadership across nearly 50 years of service to the SANFL, which included 25 years of league president and as chair of the South Australian Football Commission, and further to recognise Mr Basheer's pivotal role in establishing what was a great facility in Football Park and securing the entry of both the Adelaide Football Club and the Port Adelaide Football Club into the Australian Football League.

Max Basheer sadly passed away on 14 September this year at the age of 98. Max was born in 1927 to Lebanese immigrant parents and was raised in our state's South-East. He was educated at Prince Alfred College and studied law at the University of Adelaide, where he also played football at the amateur level. He was admitted to the bar in 1951, where he built a distinguished legal career spanning nearly seven decades, which is extraordinary, making him in many respects one of the longest serving lawyers in South Australian history. He also gave freely of his time in many capacities beyond his profession, with the Law Society of South Australia describing him as a towering figure in both law and sport, whose warmth, humility and unwavering belief in the value of people defined his approach and his endeavours.

Although Mr Basheer's success in the field of law was exceptional, it was arguably his achievements in the administration, governance and growth of football where his impact in our state is most enduring. Mr Basheer began his administrative involvement as honorary solicitor to the South Australian Amateur Football League in 1954. Over time, he rose through the ranks of the SANFL and the football community, taking on roles as tribunal commissioner, league commissioner and ultimately becoming president of the SANFL in 1978. He remained president until 2003, which makes him the longest serving president in the league's history.

Under his leadership, the SANFL navigated some of the most tumultuous and transformative periods in Australian football's history. He negotiated the establishment of Football Park at West Lakes, a bold move away from Adelaide Oval, amid protracted disputes with the cricketing authorities, which of course included many logistical challenges. He masterminded complex negotiations, at times in the face of significant opposition, to enable night matches and stadium lighting, even enduring royal commissions, judicial inquiries and very long legal processes along the way.

One of his most defining tests of course came when Port Adelaide sought to defect from the SANFL to the VFL in 1990. Under immense pressure, Max held firm to the principle that the interests of South Australian football as a whole had to be the priority. He forged a pathway to ensure that South Australia retained control over its future by securing the entry of the Adelaide Football Club under SANFL's terms, thus preserving local governance over the game. He also subsequently played a key role in facilitating Port Adelaide's entry under terms consistent with NFL's long-term interests.

Mr Basheer's contributions were widely recognised, with a life membership in both the SANFL and the AFL, induction into the SANFL Hall of Fame in 2003 and the AFL Hall of Fame in 2005, and membership of the Order of Australia for services to Australian football. Indeed, as most of us would know, a stand at the Adelaide Oval also bears Mr Basheer's name as a lasting tribute to his impressive sporting legacy. I take this opportunity to express my most sincere condolences to Mr Basheer's family, his loved ones and his friends. I strongly support the motion.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (18:01): I rise today to pay tribute to one of South Australia's greats, a man whose life left an indelible mark on our state, on our sporting culture and on generations of South Australians who found community and connection through football. Max Basheer AM was quite simply one of the most influential figures in the history of South Australian football. With nearly 50 years of service to the South Australian National Football League, including 25 years as league president and as chair of the South Australian Football Commission, Max guided our game through a period of enormous change with vision, steadiness and heart.

Born in Kalangadoo in the South-East, Max's journey, from being a country town boy and Adelaide University footballer to being one of the most respected administrators in the nation, is a story of dedication, humility and love for the game. His leadership helped shape the modern landscape of football, not just in South Australia but nationally. Among his achievements perhaps none was more significant than his role in the development of Football Park. It was Max's strategic foresight and determination that helped give South Australian football a home of its own, a stadium built by the league for the people of this state. It became a place where generations of families gathered on winter weekends, where history was made and where memories were formed.

Max was also instrumental in ensuring that South Australia had its rightful place on the national stage. He played a pivotal role in securing the entry of the Adelaide Football Club into the AFL in 1991, and the entry of the Port Adelaide Football Club in 1997. He navigated complex negotiations with strength and diplomacy, always putting the interests of South Australian football first.

Beyond the grandstands and boardrooms, Max was a mentor and a unifier. He brought people together across clubs, across regions and across generations. He was known for his integrity, calm judgement and generosity of spirit. Those who worked alongside him often spoke of his ability to listen, to mediate and to build consensus—qualities that are as rare as they are valuable.

Max's contribution was widely recognised. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1988 for his services to Australian football. He was inducted into both the South Australian and the Australian football halls of fame and received life memberships from the SANFL, the AFL, the Adelaide Football Club and the Sturt Football Club. The Max Basheer Stand at Adelaide Oval now stands as a fitting and permanent tribute to his lifetime of service.

Outside football, Max had a distinguished career in the law. He began as an honorary solicitor to the South Australian Amateur Football League in 1954, and he went on to build a respected practice, bringing professionalism and rigour to the administration of the sport he loved. Perhaps most of all, Max will be remembered as a gentleman: loyal, kind and deeply committed to his community. He gave so much of himself to others, and his influence extended far beyond the oval.

Max is survived by his daughters, Jayne and Ann, and by a wider circle of family and friends who loved him dearly. To them and to the broader football community we extend our deepest sympathy and gratitude for sharing him with us. South Australia has lost one of its greatest champions, a man whose leadership, vision and passion built more than a football legacy; he helped build community. His contribution will endure in every child who pulls on a guernsey, every volunteer who turns up on a Saturday morning and every supporter whose stands proudly behind their team.

May he rest in peace, and may we honour his memory by continuing to serve South Australia with the same integrity and devotion that defined his life.

The PRESIDENT (18:04): I rise to associate myself with the excellent contributions of members in this place. Max Basheer was one of the most unassuming but incredibly capable men that I have had the privilege of meeting. My condolences are extended to his family, including to my good friend, his nephew, David Basheer. Vale Max Basheer.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (18:05): I wish to thank the honourable members who have contributed: the Hon. Jing Lee, the Hon. Dennis Hood, the Hon. Russell Wortley, the Hon. Nicola Centofanti and, of course, you, Mr President. Those contributions certainly summed up Max's incredible achievements and long and illustrious life. Clearly, he was held in high esteem in the community and the legal profession but especially in the world of football. I understand there were hundreds at his memorial at the Adelaide Oval on 3 October, and there were many distinguished speakers there, including former judge Kevin Duggan KC, who delivered a warm and colourful tribute to his dear friend.

I am told by one of his closest friends that Max had written a tell-all book to only be released after his passing. I am sure the contents will be quite explosive if Max made those conditions about releasing the book. Again, condolences to his daughters, Jayne and Ann, his grandchildren and his relatives—his nephews and nieces and others in the wider Basheer family. I commend the motion to the chamber.

Motion carried.

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