ROBERT Krause has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division for his life-long service to the Marburg community.

He was one of the 732 recipients throughout Australia to be awarded in the General Division of the Order of Australia.

Robert’s service to the community was recognised in numerous fields including more than 75 years support of the Marburg Show Society, where he started as a school boy exhibitor.

Keeping to family tradition, he kept the passion for the Show alive and during his time as a member, he held the position of President from 2006 to 2017 and was elected a Life Member in 1994.

The value he placed in the Marburg Show resulted in Robert co-authoring a book entitled, ‘Not Just a Show’ which explains the history of the Society.

Robert is a member of the St Matthews Lutheran Church congregation where he served as a former Synod delegate on a National and State level and he was also the congregational Chairman for several years.

Schools within the district were also of interest to Robert and from 1982 to 1993, he was a board member of the Bethany Lutheran Primary School at Raceview.

Then during 1995 through to 1998, Robert dedicated his time on the planning committee at the Faith Lutheran College in Plainlands and from 1999 to 2009 he was also a member on the College Council.

He served on the Ipswich Council City Council Consultative Group as Chair for the Marburg State School Centenary Celebrations in 1979.

Robert has also served as treasurer of the Marburg Rural Fire Brigade and he has walked door to door raising monies for the Leukemia Foundation and the Heart Foundation.

Robert said news of the award was “exciting to have received this recognition” and he summed up time spent volunteering as “an absolute honour”.

“I have had such a close support group over the years from my wife Janet, from four sons, from my siblings, colleagues and friends,” he said.

“It has been gratifying to see the schools that I have been involved with established, fantastic to witness local shows still showcasing our local produce and livestock and it has been a pleasure to be able to help people.

“In downtime I would make my way down to the local cricket grounds to meet my mates for a social and sometimes competitive game of cricket, this was a really enjoyable time.”

Now retired as a fourth-generation dairy farmer, Robert still lives on his farm with his wife Janet, and they still attend the local shows and events.

Robert will be presented with his OAM by Governor General Dr Jeanette Young at an Investiture Ceremony at Government House Queensland in Brisbane in April, this year.