The Max Dunn Award is presented every year in New South Wales to someone who has shown outstanding commitment to the industry. This award has been presented since 1995 when the now SCA was known as ISTM.
ISTM (Institute of Strata Title Management) was established in 1980 becoming the first association to represent strata managers in New South Wales. It was rebranded Strata Community Australia (SCA) in 2013 and in 2017 Strata Community Association. In its early days only a few individuals worked very hard giving their time and energy to ensure the entity survived and prospered. The organisation provided social and networking events and eventually gained accreditation as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) enabling it to offer its own strata-related training courses including the Certificate of Registration course and CPD. The SCA NSW today boasts 3,200 members and also has chapters in all states and territories. This is an awesome effort from such humble beginnings.
Max Dunn was ISTM President between 1988 and 1993.
Norman Maxwell (Max) Dunn was born in 1916 and was described as a quiet man but a straight shooter. He joined the RAAF at 23 and was amongst the first to enlist in 1940. Max flew Tiger Moths being in the first contingent to be sent to Great Britain. He fought at the Battle of Britain and up to June 1941 flew missions across the English Channel to France.
On his 25th birthday, 19 June 1941, Max was shot down in a dogfight with the Germans over France. Ditching his plane in the Channel, he survived 17 hours in the water before being picked up by a German patrol boat and sent to a Prisoner of War camp in Sagen, Poland.
While in the camp Max took classes in accountancy and, apparently, tunnel digging. The movie The Great Escape is based on the activities of him and his fellow POWs. In 1945 Max was liberated and returned to Australia.
Max settled back in Sydney, married and had two children. He worked for Erikson Telecom until he retired in 1977. Not being content to sit around, Max decided to become a strata manager in 1978.
Max helped establish the ISTM and was instrumental in setting up the original Chatswood office. He was ISTM’s third President; a role his son Alastair would also later take on as its sixth President.
Max sadly passed away in 1998 but left an indelible mark on so many people.
The Max Dunn award was proposed in 1995 and recognises those in the strata industry who, like Max, encourage friendship and harmony.
This year the award was presented to StrataMax’s NSW Manager, David Edgerton. David commenced with StrataMax just over 10 years ago after starting his career in the banking sector. During this time he has shown determination, tenacity and a passion for the strata industry. He has worked tirelessly to build relationships and supported the SCA and the industry in building a positive profile for the sector.
Congratulations David on this wonderful achievement.