In the Spotlight: Ross Dobbrick

Ross Dobbrick, of Dobbrick Financial Services, has been part of the Roadcraft family since its establishment over forty years ago. He stepped up his involvement in 2014 when he joined the board. His years of service to the organisation include his being made Vice President from 2015 to 2017, as well as from 2019 to 2021 and a stint as President from 2017 to 2019.

Now the time has come for Ross to step aside from the role and welcome in a new Vice President, we thought it was the perfect time to talk to Ross about his time with Roadcraft. 

How did you get involved with Roadcraft?

My first involvement with Roadcraft was some 40 plus years ago, when Roadcraft was being established. I was involved with Apex when Rotary began to establish a driver education facility now called Roadcraft. Rotary asked the Apex club to help with the building of classrooms etc. 

Later, about nine years ago, I was asked by the then President Coman Reynolds to come on board and join the committee. Over time, as I learned more about how Roadcraft operated, I took on the role of Vice President then President. 

Why have you chosen to support Roadcraft for all this time?

It was easy to see the benefits that Roadcraft provided to the youth of the region by teaching life-saving techniques that were otherwise unavailable – and still aren’t except through Roadcraft.

What achievements are you most proud of in your time on the board?

There are two projects that have been close to my heart, in addition to our normal work. 

We provided safe driver education to senior high school students as well as Queensland Ambulance Service.

It was the funds raised through QAS that allowed us to subsidise courses for the students, and as we have been successful in retaining the QAS contract we now have the ability to continue our student driver education program.

The Roadcraft board always had the vision to expand our services, and in 2017 we were approached by the Benaraby Driver Education facility in Gladstone. Now Roadcraft provides courses and financial support as part of our expansion plans. 

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I have enjoyed my 9 years on the board, seeing the business grow, and being able to further the ideals of making our roads safer for all to enjoy. Of course, none of this would have been possible without a strong board and our dedicated staff. 

We would like to thank Ross for all the years of hard work he’s put into Roadcraft. The roles he has taken on have not been easy ones and the entire community is better off and safer on the roads thanks to his, and Roadcraft’s, efforts to educate and train drivers.