Max & Nellie Holz

As part of my exhibition at Toronto Library, I also completed some Golden age sessions at Toronto Library as part of the Dobell festival for Lake Mac Arts
I had to create a whole new setup for these, & had some lovely people come along to be captured.
Max & Nellie were residents of the small town of Denman, that I grew up in. I went to school with one of their sons. It was so lovely to see them & hear their story.

Petronella Wilhelmina Maria Vereyken (Nellie) born 20April,1953 in Helmond, Netherlands. Her father was a farmer, and she migrated to Australia on a ship Johan van Oldenbarneveltwith her parents and three siblings. They arrived in Melbourne on 3 November,1953, and then travelled by train to the Bonegilla Migrant Camp near Albury NSW.
The family grew to six children, life was busy, and Nellie’s Mum found it difficult to communicate as she knew very little English.
From there Nellie’s family lived for a short time at Blandford and Murrurundi, before her parents purchased a house and ten acres on Borah Creek Road, Quirindi in 1956, where Nellie’s entire life was spent until her marriage. Nellie attended St Joseph’s Catholic School, Quirindi from K to Year 10. Nellie started school not able to speak English.

Maxwell Alphonsus Holz born 18 August,1951 at “Fairholme” Singleton. His great great grandparents migrated from Germany to Australia in the 1800’s and were involved with wineries and their construction.
Max rode a horse to Lemington Public School where he attended from K to Year 6. He then attended Singleton High School, His first seventeen years was at “Oaklands” Dairy farm, (where Hunter Valley Operations – Coal Mine operates today.
He then moved to “Lynburn” dairy farm at Scott’s Flat, Singleton with his parents in January 1968, until he eventually wished to spread his wings, fly the coup and move away from the family farm.

Max moved to “Bokhara’ Quirindi in September 1973, to manage a 300acre farm.

The only people Max knew at Quirindi was Tony and Jan Daniels, (Jan had gone to St Catherine’s College in Singleton with Max’s oldest sister Annette.
Max had a weekly meal with them, also, Jan was kind enough to do his laundry. It was Jan’s workplace, Mundey’s (ladies frock shop) that Max met his future wife Petronella (Nellie Vereyken)who at that time was employed as a shop assistant.

Some weeks later Max received a phone call from Nellie and he was asked if he would partner her to a friend’s wedding. The request was considered carefully for at least five minutes, then without hesitation accepted her offer.
A romance blossomed after that occasion and in February 1975Nellie and Max were engaged, and a celebration was held in the Parish Hall in Quirindi.
Nellie and Max were married in St Brigid’s Catholic Church Quirindi on 20 September,1975.

Their honeymoon was a car trip in Max’s first car a Toyota Celica(the same as the model brought along to the photo session) from Quirindi to Armidale, then on to the coast, as far north as Gympie.

They made their home as a newly married couple at “Bokhara” Quirindi.

Nellie continued working at Mundey’s, whilst Max worked at“Emu Holes” Hereford stud, for several months, before taking a position at “Arcoona” a large flood irrigation property growing Corn, Sorghum and Soy beans.

Whilst Nellie was pregnant with their first child, Philip, they had a seven week overseas trip via Bahrain and Amsterdam to have a week or so with Nellie’s extended family in Holland and a two week journey around Europe in a VW Combi campervan, and then onto Canada, (visiting an Aunt and family) before making their way by coach across the USA to San Francisco, seeing lots of attractions and having many wonderful memories.

Their first child, Philip was born in Quirindi District Hospital.

Then, Neville Hamblin wanted Max to work for him on his adjoining property. Max reluctantly, left “Arcoona”, to go with Neville and together they were a great team, he really enjoyed that period. Building an eight row seeder, 24ft wide including fold up wing markers, was a fantastic achievement. Neville also had plans to build a grain elevator, (too big a task for Max and Neville on their own) so a fabrication firm, Goddard Engineering from Tamworth was contracted and after several months, the hugetask was completed.
Max was then offered a position in Tamworth with that company, travelling daily to Tamworth was quite a drag, so after several months and Neville Hamblin purchasing a property at Mullaley, asked Max if he would consider moving to Mullaley to work for him once again.

Their second son, Adrian was born in Quirindi District Hospital.

Soon after his arrival Max and Nellie reluctantly packed up and made the move to “Kairi” Mullaley.
However, after ten months only, because of isolation and such distance from families, they decided to purchase a dairy farm,“Fairview” at Denman in September 1980.
 Luke was born in Denman District Hospital, giving them three boys.

This really kept them on their toes, in conjunction with their busy farm routine.

Then to complete their family Emma was born in Muswellbrook District Hospital.

They were highly delighted and blessed with a little girl, fulfilling their dreams.

Making lots of hay and Dairy farming, as well as successfully breeding and showing Stud Friesian cattle (winning a blue ribbon at Newcastle Show for a group of three heifers by the one sire) being a highlight.

Max has suffered from asthma since birth, so much so, he had to be nourished via a tube into a vein at his ankle. His chronic condition was made even worse in 1984, whilst in the dairy, a large water heater collapsed and crushed Max, causing a pulmonary embolism and DVT. Numerous hospital admissions with lung related issues, ultimately led to the removal of his upper right lobe/lung.

Max’s chest specialist advised to stop dairy farming to lighten the workload. They reluctantly chose to take this advice and subsequently sold the milk quota, and then by auction, on the farm, sold the milking herd in May 1988.

They purchased and commenced operating the Martindale school bus run in September 1988, and after 29 years of continuous service, (sharing the role of bus driving), sold the bus run to one of their earliest student passengers.

Farming and bus driving at Denman was a very busy time, with the family also being involved in Little Athletics from 1988 to1999, (where Max was President for eight years), Swimming Club, Cricket and Netball. A couple of years later as the boys were playing Rugby League, Max was elected Secretary of the DRLF Club.

In 1993 they purchased an adjoining property, “Bandalong” and with the help from their four children developed this into a lovely viable lucerne/cattle property.

In 2002 Nellie decided to give golf a go, with immediate success representing Denman Golf Club in numerous competitions, including Keno State Final at Canberra, District Pennants, Golf NSW medals in Sydney and being B Grade Champion on numerous occasions at both Denman and Pacific Dunes golf Clubs. Nellie also won the Pacific Dunes Cup (4BMatch Play) with her partner in 2024.
Nellie held the position of Ladies Captain at Denman club for seven years.
Nellie achieved a ‘HOLE IN ONE’ at Denman Golf course in February 2009.
Max was roped into playing golf, by Nellie and immediately became addicted, also had varied success (namely B Grade Champion at Denman and Vets Champion and Match Play Champion at both Denman and Pacific Dunes. His most treasured achievement was winning the C Grade Pennants for Pacific Dunes in 2018 and more recently winning, with his partner the Pacific Dunes Men’s Foursomes Nett Trophy.
Max held the position of Captain of the Upper Hunter Veteran Golf Association for eight years.
Golf has taken them to many holiday destinations, meeting wonderful friends, competing in many tournaments with varied success.
In planning for their retirement, the properties and bus run were sold.
They purchased their retirement home on the Coast, with major medical services nearby.
Nellie created a family heirloom christening gown, enjoys embroidery and sewing beautiful dresses for the granddaughters.
They have enjoyed every minute of retirement, continuing with their golf, and social activities, travelling throughout Australia and overseas, and spending time with their four children, their partners and fifteen beautiful grandchildren.

Who knows what the next chapter will bring …..

Included in their photos are Nellie's doll a gift given from Dutch acquaintances, from the migrant ship when they visited the family in Quirindi.
The Mustang is one of Max & Nellie's current vehicles. A 1966 model acquired in 2018