TRIBUTES have flowed following the death of long-time and much-loved Hunter athletics coach Max Debnam. Login or signup to continue reading A mainstay at the track in Glendale and having mentored across six decades, Debnam passed away over the weekend. In a Newcastle Herald article from 2012, then aged 74, Debnam said: "You've got to have the passion for it to go that long, and I've had that and it's been very rewarding".
The likes of Tony Fairweather, Anna Delforce and Alexandra Hanley all paid tribute to Debnam on Monday, saying: "I will always appreciate your mentoring and support", "the world has lost a beautiful man" and "a true legend, not just as a person but as a mentor for so many athletes all over the country". Debnam, who started coaching in 1960, previously described his highlight being Linda Garden's Olympic long jump final from Los Angeles in 1984. Hunter Sports Centre released a statement on Monday.
"Over the weekend, we lost a true legend in the sport of athletics - Max Debnam," they said. "His passing is an immeasurable and devastating loss to his friends, family, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. "Max's contributions have shaped not only the sport but also the lives of countless athletes he mentored over his 60-year coaching career.
"Max was a well-known and beloved figure within the Hunter Sports Centre athletics community since its opening in 1999. "His presence, expertise, and guidance became a cornerstone for the facility, where he also .