Cricket lover and real estate director Paul Justin Ross dies at age 50

The loss of a cricket-loving dad man has left the Port Fairy community numb. See what his friends have said to honour his life.

A Port Fairy dad has died after his ongoing battle with prostate cancer.

Paul Justin Ross passed away on February 3 after fighting prostate cancer since his diagnosis in 2018.

The popular and sporty 50-year-old was a life member of the Port Fairy Cricket Club and leaves behind wife Rachael and daughters Eliza and Chloe.

The Robertson Port Fairy team said Mr Ross, their director since 2007, was an “irreplaceable presence that has left this world too soon”.

Colleague and sales agent Jay Everall said Mr Ross was a really “approachable” person and known for his “sporting prowess”.

“There’s not one bad word you could say about him — he was just such a nice bloke,” Mr Everall said.

Mr Ross always made sure everyone was feeling okay about his diagnosis. Picture: Facebook

“He was more concerned about others around him in a sense rather than himself. He would always be interested in knowing how you were going and what you were up to.

“Particularly those who knew him well, he wanted to make sure they were feeling okay about his diagnosis.

“He was a very genuine and caring person — also a very professional man.”

Mr Everall said Mr Ross’s reputation in town was “immaculate” and was well-respected in the real estate industry around the district.

“A lot of people within the industry would often seek his input and advice on different tricky situations which you do sometimes encounter and he was always very trustworthy,” Mr Everall said.

“People always respected his opinion — he admitted this himself that he would employ people by their character not so much their skillset.

Mr Ross was known for his "sporting prowess" and was well-respected in the real estate industry. Picture: Facebook

“It was really important for him to have an office full of the right people — that was certainly a priority of his.

“You could almost ring anyone from the town who knew him from the cricket club, the footy club, the tennis club or through work — there was just something so genuine about him that people really appreciated — he loved his work and he loved his family.

“It was just a privilege to know him.”

Posting on an online tribute page, friends Danny and Lisa Roberts said “Rossy” would be “dearly missed”.

“A great friend and respected colleague through our mutual line of work,” they wrote.

“Studying with you in Melbourne always brings great memories.”

“Rossy was a fantastic bloke and a great mate to many at the WDCA,” Terry Beks posted to his Facebook page.

“The world is a sadder place without people like Paul Ross in it,” John Houston commented.

Neil Kelly, another friend of Mr Ross, also shared his thoughts on Facebook.

“The world lost one of the best all round sportsmen I’ve had the privilege of playing with,” Mr Kelly wrote.

Mr Ross’s funeral service will be held at the Oak and Anchor Hotel in Port Fairy on Wednesday at 3pm.