Grace Kirk: a tower of strength to her family and Hazelton Brahmans

With her husband Ted, Grace Kirk was a familiar name in Brahman circles, having helped establish one of the industry's pioneer studs, Hazelton, at Gayndah.

Grace Isabel Kirk (nee Carmichael) died on Saturday, May 10, surrounded by family at the age of 97.

Her son, Brett, said his mother was very much part of the team at Hazelton.

"She and Dad built the house here at Hazelton, they established the Hazelton stud, and she was very much part of that," he said.

"Like a lot of bush women (of her era), they were sort of in the background, but possibly the backbone of the whole show."

Mr Kirk said his mother always had an opinion about the stud and accompanied his father to every Brahman sale.

In the early days when her children were young, Mrs Kirk was a stay-at-home mum keeping the fires burning at home, he said.

But Mr Kirk said when the beef depression of the 1970s came and they had to lay off staff, she got back in the saddle.

"For many, many years, she was mustering and doing a lot of the (property) work...they were tough times in the beef depression," he said.

"(But) she was very resilient, she was always very family orientated...she was very proud of her growing family and her grandchildren, staying in contact with them all.

"She was always very engaging, always very interested in what people were doing, always very hospitable and welcoming of people."

Mr Kirk said it would have been his father who decided to go into Brahmans, but his mother would have been part of the decision.

"Right up until she was in her 90s, I would take her in the buggy and we'd go out and look at calves, and she'd sit at the yards when we were branding," he said.

Born at Tingalpa on December 28, 1927, Mrs Kirk spent her early childhood on a dairy farm before moving with her family to a cattle property, west of Gayndah, where she met Ted Kirk, marrying him in 1949.

John Croaker, a former CEO of the Brahman Breeders Association, said Grace would have been a tower of strength to her family and Hazelton Brahman Stud.

"She was a very loving person and a great strength to Ted and Brett...and her grandsons in the development and progress of the Hazelton Brahman Stud over the years," he said.

"Hazelton was one of the pioneer studs in the industry."

Mr Croaker said Grace had a broad friendship and respect within the Brahman industry and her community.

Mrs Kirk is survived by her children - Robyn, Wendy, Leonie and Brett - their partners, 13 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.

A celebration of her life will be held at St Matthew's Anglican Church, Gayndah, on Friday, May 23, at 11am.

Hazelton Brahman Stud was established in 1961 as stud number 39.