Rotary award

GYMPIE businessman Ross Dobbrick was presented with the highest award in Rotary, the Paul Harris Fellowship, at a combined meeting of Gympie’s two Rotary Clubs last week.

A member of Gympie Rotary Club since 1994, he has held directorships and is currently Bulletin Editor.

Mr Dobbrick was presented with the award, named after the founder of Rotary International, at the dinner meeting, his proposer Paul Atkinson giving an account of his service to the community.

Mr Atkinson said the club has a tradition of awarding Paul Harris Fellowships, named after the founder of Rotary, to citizens in recognition of their great contribution to the community over a period of time.

“We look to people from all areas of the community and sometimes the awardees are from within our own ranks,” he said.

Ross Dobbrick has lived in Gympie since 1970 when he came here to work with SGIO Insurance (Suncorp).

He is a certified financial planner, a member of the Financial Planning Association and a member of the Australian Financial Advisors Association.

On July 1, 2002, Mr Dobbrick left Suncorp to establish an independent agency of Genysis Wealth Advisors and also acquired an Elders General Insurance agency which all operates from Reef St in Gympie. He now has a staff of 12 people. Mr Dobbrick has been involved in various organisations in Gympie and was a member of Gympie Apex until reaching retirement age of 40, on retirement he was awarded life membership of Apex.

He also was president of the Gympie Swimming Club for some time.

Mr Atkinson said Ross Dobbrick has been involved in the Noosa Triathlon almost from its inception.