Community

Doug Sharpe was a long term member of the Gosford Musical Society and supported local productions. He always enjoyed the barbershop chorus. Doug was also a stalwart of The Salvation Army Band. Ron Sharpe played in local bands and is seen here with his bass guitar in The Disciples Four. The stage was set and the family continues to support the arts community across a range of initiatives.

Caroline Curby gets married. The family expands and a new generation is born. Together, Ron and Carol raise a family and build a business. They also design homes, make strategic investments and travel widely. They continue the philosophy of community service and inspire their three sons through the support of projects where the company's trucks & equipment can help make a practical difference.

Carol Sharpe is the eldest daughter of Dorothy & Doug Curby.     

A Returned Soldier and former Prisoner Of War, this is a photo of Doug and his Brothers marching in the Sydney ANZAC Day Parade in 1955. These six Brothers knew the horrors of war and all returned home to make their own contributions to our Australian way of life.

The Sharpe trucks were able to tow the large cash a can trailers for Apex. Trailers were able to be stored at Sharpe depots and taken to collection sites. For many years, the funds raised through Cash a Can were able to support local initiatives to help build local parks, paint and repair community halls and more.

Ron Sharpe was a founding member of the Umina Apex Club and served as President. He also served a term as District Governor of Central Coast Apex Clubs in 1981 and was awarded Life Membership.  A generation later, Michael Sharpe also served as President and was awarded Young Apexian of the Year for the Central Coast District. 

Elizabeth French married Michael Sharpe in 1993. Elizabeth has three brothers and is the only daughter of Jill and James French. Jim is a former Military Officer and Graduate of the Australian Army's Officer Training Unit at Scheyville and went on to build a career in the New South Wales Police Force.

In 2005, Ron Sharpe was awarded the Citizen of the Year for Gosford City. During a business trip to Japan, Carol and Ron were able to meet with Mayor Tada and officials at the Sister City of Edogawa, near Tokyo. They were shown local infrastructure projects and shared their experience.

Elizabeth and Michael are long term life partners, having been together since they were teenagers and married for 27 years. They have encouraged volunteering and public participation all their lives, whilst bringing up three children and involving themselves in a wide range of local sporting and community groups.

Jordi Sharpe featured in an awareness campaign for Melanoma Australia. Like too many others, the family have lost loved ones to cancer. The Sharpe Family's support for cancer research has only grown over time and includes support for the Cancer Council and other medical research.

Michael Sharpe was in the inaugural  team for the Central Coast Cancer Council's - Dancing With The Stars. Michael was awarded for his efforts as the largest fundraiser but not so much for his dancing! Run over several months including fund raising events and dancing lessons! The annual event has gone on to raise funds for the vital work of cancer research.

In addition to the Freemasons and service clubs including Rotary, Lions Clubs and Apex, the Sharpe Family are committed to community service. Michael Sharpe serves on the organising committee of the annual 5 Lands Walk, a spectacular event with over 22,000 people walking from MacMasters Beach to Terrigal and includes over 750 volunteers.

Serving on community boards for Masonicare, Lifeline, Freemasons, Service Clubs and others helps with governance but a key driver is fund raising. Whether its Cash a Can, Salvos's Door Knocking or the Rotary Charity Wheel, fund-raising is the life blood of organisations. On this occasion, William Sharpe was able to use his tennis skills and help raise $50,000 for Lifeline Services across the community.