Bill, Rob and John Stevenson from Earlyrise Bakery are the latest inductees into the Emile Serisier Roll of Honour.
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The Stevenson Brothers were named as the inductees on Friday night at the 2018 Chamber of Commerce Rhino Awards.
The Roll of Honour recognises those who demonstrate outstanding entrepreneurial spirit, strategic business direction and innovative ideas, whilst providing inspiration to a new generation of upcoming business leaders.
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While the brothers weren’t at the event to accept the award, Bill’s daughter Emma Stevenson said they were immensely proud of the honour.
Bill, Rob and John were only young when they started working in the family bakery. Their grandfather Francis Oswald ‘Aussie’ Stevenson had started a small bakery in Tooraweenah in 1918.
The business remained in the family throughout the past 100 years, operating under various names before it was run by Bill, Rob and John.
Emma said along their journey to success, the brothers learnt how it often grew from sacrifice.
In 1982, Bill, Rob and John’s father died of a heart attack.
“At the young ages of 10, 15 and 16 years old they inherited their first business that kept the bills paid and the family fed. With a grieving mother at home and a young brother still in middle school Bill and Rob who at their age should have been with friends or learning how to drive a car were left to run a bakery business,” Emma said.
“In tough times they always knew how to pull together, support each other and push a little harder. They contribute a lot of their success to their friendship, respect and appreciation of each other.”
When Bill, Rob and John first took over the business there were four employees at their bakery on Boundary Road, Emma said. Now, Earlyrise Bakery employed more than 150 local residents.
Emma said the business was immensely motivated by people and they strongly believed good people were the key to good business.
The Village Bakery Cafe was the first in the city operate as a bakery and cafe. Earlyrise Bakery has also won numerous national awards, including the being the first to win the National Great Aussie Meat Pie Competition twice.
In 2013 Earlyrise Bakery was also given the Gold Rhino award.
“Bill, Rob and John grew up in Dubbo, their children grew up in Dubbo and now their grandchildren are growing up in Dubbo. I now they will continue to help grow and invest in Dubbo for many years to come,” Emma said.