Premium Content
Subscriber only THE Fraser Coast community has lost some amazing people this year, from a whale watching pioneer to Maryborough s first Proud Mary. Here we take a look back on the lives of the community icons we have farewelled in 2020.
Legend of Hervey Bay whale watching dies The tributes to whale watching pioneer Brian Perry flowed in July after the much-loved 72-year-old died after battling illness. Alongside his wife Jill, Brian built the industry from the ground up after the former fishing charter operator and his wife saw a potential tourism opportunity in visiting humpback whales and seized it.
Hervey Bay s Rob Nissen died on December 9 after suffering complications from surgery. On Friday the much-loved husband and dad, who owned and operated Rob Nissen s Floorcovering Centre for several decades, was remembered by his wife Maureen as a man who was generous to a fault. A floorcovering business was established by Rob s family in 1968 and he trained as a floorcovering layer. In the 1990s, he came home and told Maureen he had decided to go into business himself and had one simple question - are you with me? Her answer was simple: Of course . In the years since then the couple have operated a successful business while raising their daughters, Amanda, Brigette and Crystal.