Max Walker

Maxwell Henry Norman Walker (12 September 1948 – 28 September 2016) was an Australian sportsman who played both cricket and Australian rules football at high levels. After six years of balancing first-class cricket in summer, professional football in winter and study for a degree in architecture, Walker earned a place in the Australian cricket team in 1972 and represented his country in the sport until injury ended his career in 1981. Following his retirement, he worked as an architect and also commenced a career in radio and television media. He wrote 14 books over a period of thirty years and became a successful public speaker. His unorthodox cricket bowling action earned him the nickname "Tangles", and his larrikin character made him a much-loved figure with the Australian public. Walker died of multiple myeloma on 28 September 2016 after being diagnosed with the disease three years earlier. He was a part of the Australian squad which finished as runners-up at the 1975 Cricket World Cup.

Maxwell Henry Norman Walker (12 September 1948 – 28 September 2016) was an Australian sportsman who played both cricket and Australian rules football at high levels. After six years of balancing first-class cricket in summer, professional football in winter and study for a degree in architecture, Walker earned a place in the Australian cricket team in 1972 and represented his country in the sport until injury ended his career in 1981. Following his retirement, he worked as an architect and also commenced a career in radio and television media. He wrote 14 books over a period of thirty years and became a successful public speaker. His unorthodox cricket bowling action earned him the nickname "Tangles", and his larrikin character made him a much-loved figure with the Australian public. Walker died of multiple myeloma on 28 September 2016 after being diagnosed with the disease three years earlier. He was a part of the Australian squad which finished as runners-up at the 1975 Cricket World Cup. == Early life and education== Walker was born in Hobart, Tasmania, on 12 September 1948. While in high school he represented Tasmania as an opening batsman in their colts team, scoring a century in one match. As a schoolboy at The Friends' School, Hobart, Walker was vice-captain of the firsts cricket team, played Aussie Rules football and was a talented junior athlete for his school. He also played for North Hobart Cricket Club and North Hobart Football Club as a junior. After graduating from Friends' School in 1967 he relocated to Melbourne to play football and also enrolled in an architecture degree at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. He graduated with a fellowship diploma in 1973. ==Post-retirement from cricket== After retiring from competitive cricket in 1981, Walker practised architecture for 10 years. He also became a highly regarded for his work in the media, including television and radio. He was also a successful author and public speaker. ===Public speaking=== Following the cancellation of Nine's Wide World of Sports in 1999, Walker commenced appearing on the public speaking circuit. He turned it into a successful business and continued speaking until at least 2015. Walker held the designation of Certified Speaking Professional, which is the highest accreditation within Professional Speakers Australia. In 2016, he presented a keynote address at the Professional Speakers Australia annual convention. He received the Educator of the Year award from Professional Speakers Australia at that same convention. ==Honours== On 13 June 2011, Walker was named a Member of the Order of Australia for service to cricket at a national and international level as a player and commentator, and to the community through a range of youth and social welfare organisations. ==Personal life== Walker was married twice and had five children: three sons from his first marriage, and two daughters with his second wife Kerry. He was an avid collector of fountain pens and featured in one episode of the ABC's Collectors. Walker died from multiple myeloma on 28 September 2016, after being diagnosed in August 2013. ==Bibliography== Books authored or co-authored by Walker: Tangles (1976), with Neill Phillipson, Cricketer at the Crossroads (1978), with Neill Phillipson, Back to Bay 13 (1980), The Wit of Walker (1983), with Mike Coward, How to Hypnotise Chooks (1987), How to Tame Lions (1988), How to Kiss a Crocodile (1989), How to Puzzle a Python (1990), The best of Mr Walker (1992), A Chip Off the Old Block (1996), Sports Jokes (1997), with Brian Doyle, Ladies and Gentlemen (1999), with Mike McColl Jones, The Volunteers (2001), with Gerry Gleeson, Caps, Hats and Helmets (2006), ==See also== List of Australian rules footballers and cricketers ==Notes== ==References== ==External links== Walker's football statistics from AFL Tables Interview on ABC Television's Talking Heads February 2007

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