Contributed by Rotary Club of Dubbo Macquarie. 

The Rotary Club of Dubbo Macquarie has bestowed Rotary’s highest honour on two stalwarts of the community whose remarkable dedication and selfless contribution has helped make our city and our region a better place.

At the club’s annual changeover, continuing president Lorraine Holland presented two very surprised but deeply worthy recipients with the prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship – Marty Morris and Brian Schloeffel.

Marty’s award was bestowed in honour not only of his unofficial service to the club for more than three decades as the partner of charter member Lorna Breeze, but in particular for his extraordinary contribution to the Dubbo Show Society.

The Morris family’s involvement with the show is legendary, and none more so than with Marty’s decades-long dedication to the organisation, both as president for five years and as an active and integral committee member for more than 30 years.

It is widely recognised that his service to the show is invaluable in the real sense of the word, with Marty dedicating months and months of his own time and money to ensure the smooth running of the show each year.

Brian Schloeffel’s contribution to the region of Dubbo is equally legendary, having dedicated more than half a century of his time voluntarily to help keep his community safe through his efforts with the Rural Fire Service (RFS).

He started with the RFS at Bunglegumbie in 1970 and has been there – boots and all – ever since; through some of our region’s most challenging times of fire and flood, and as part of the RFS’s efforts to help out wherever needed in serving the community.

After leading his crew as captain for 25 years straight, Brian still wears the distinctive and instantly recognisable yellow RFS garb with pride after 55 years and is currently deputy captain of the Burrabadine RFS.

On behalf of a grateful community, the Rotary Club of Dubbo Macquarie offers its deepest thanks and hearty congratulations to both Marty Morris and Brian Schloeffel.