Page 36 - Australasian Paint & Panel magazine Jul-Aug 2021
P. 36

                 PEOPLE MATTER
            36
PAINT&PANEL JULY / AUGUST 2021
WWW.PAINTANDPANEL.COM.AU
38 BEARS EMPLOYS DISABLED WORKERS • 40 PHYCHO WHAT? • 42 FOOD IN THE WORKPLACE
  VALE STEVE ECONOMIDIS
INDUSTRY PIONEER STEVE ECONOMIDIS FROM GABBA COLLISION REPAIR CENTRE PASSED AWAY IN MAY. THE TEAM AT GABBA PREPARED THIS TRIBUTE TO HIS LIFE.
S TEVE BEGAN HIS CAREER IN the motor industry at GMH aged ‘16’, however he pretend- edtobeoldertobeabletoget the job he so desperately wanted. He worked ‘on the line’ and vehicle testing until he left GMH at 24 years old to go into partnership at Sprayland in Deshon St, Brisbane. After two years working with his partner, then bought Sprayland, outright in the first week of November 1975. Steve married Jennifer the very next week. This man sure
liked to keep busy.
‘After 10 years at the helm and at the
ripe old age of 36, he decided to retire and sold the business to his old boss at GMH in 1986. Steve spent three years at home, all whilst still repairing cars and even semi-trailers.
‘MMI Insurance approached Steve to manage and buy into another partner- ship with them at 10 Wellington Rd in about 1992. He soon ran out of space, so he built a new, modern, up and coming facility that is now known as
Gabba Collisions and is still going great today under the leadership of Ste- ve’s son Paul. Steve was always Paul’s go to person for advice and help.
‘He is an amazing man and has al- ways been a respected boss who takes pride in his business and looks after his employees like family, and was so proud that Paul is following in his foot- steps. His many years of experience and service to the car industry are tru- ly commendable. He will be missed dearly by so many, especially his Gab- ba Collisions family.’
Steve was an industry pioneer build- ing one of the largest repair shops in the industry and attracted so many OEM badges because of the high quali- ty of workmanship and customer ser- vice his business provides. Andrew Minns of Subaru one of the many OEMs Steve worked with said: “Steve gave en- ergy, commitment and dedication as a business partner and to me as a person. He has made a mark on the industry and a legacy which will continue for many years to come. Steve worked with passion, integrity and charm. A person of great intellect matched with a big heart. One I will miss greatly. My sor- row is lessened only slightly with the comforting thought that I had the privi- lege to know him personally.”
Gabba has long been an approved re- pairer for Jaguar Land Rover. Richard Moye dealer principal, Brisbane City Jag- uar Land Rover said: “Steve Economidis had been part Of the Brisbane City Jaguar Landrover family for many years and will be missed by myself and all the team here. Thankfully his wisdom, experience and knowledge have been passed onto his son Paul who will continue to run the business and look after the team in the years ahead. We wish them all the best and support moving forward.”
There was also a tribute read out to Steve in the Queensland parliament by Ross Vasta MP describing him as one of Bayside’s most influential businessmen
Steve won many Paint & Panel best shop awards over the years and it was this editor’s priviledge to have met him on several occassions. He was so loved by the team at Gabba and has left an amazing legacy for his son Paul. Our sympathies to all of the family and the extended Gabba family.
                         TOP: Steve Economidis a Best Shop from Steven Brett of Axalta and The Bodyshop Awards.
ABOVE: Economidis in action at an earlier incarnation of of Gabba.
       














































































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