Vale Colin Krause
14.3.1936 – 7.6.2023
THE late Colin Krause was dedicated to his family, his community and to helping others.
Colin Herbert Krause was born in St Kilda’s hospital, Rosewood on March 14, 1936 and was raised on a farm at Park-Hill Lanefield, with his father Ted, his mother Emma and his brother Ken.
Colin attended Ashwell State School, until Grade 7 before working with his parents on the farm.
For 10 years, he looked after cattle, pigs, hens, gardening, fencing, digging wells, driving machinery and he also took part in water divining.
On August 15, 1960 Colin met Margaret Kerslake. Their first date was to a local dance and from that day on, they were a couple.
After following strict instructions that they had to wait until Margaret reached the age of 20, they were married two days after her birthday on May 11, 1963 in the Rosewood Congregational Church.
Colin went to the Booval Butter Factory to seek employment, where he was told by the manager to come back when it rains, the next week it rained, and on November 10, 1960 he started his factory job.
He gained all the necessary certificates, including milk and cream testing, butter and cheese making and milk and cheese grading and became a supervisor in 1967.
On July 15, 1994 he resigned when diagnosed with glaucoma. He spent much of his time with his herd of Herefords.
Colin also enjoyed gardening, and building vegetable gardens. He erected miles of fencing for families.
When he was a teenager, Colin discovered he had the gift of water divining and for the next 50 years his services were regularly called on.
Water divining, required a lot of energy and skill, and on many occasions, he was left drained, with broken shirt buttons, a bruised chest and a minimal amount of money as he regularly waived the service fee.
Colin and Margaret enjoyed many trips around Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania.
He was a valued member of the Rosewood Pensioners League, the Rosewood community and the Rosewood Uniting Church, where he held many positions.
A Uniting Church elder, Colin performed maintenance for the church, the church hall and the Goodwill shop, he also drove many meals to families through the Meals on Wheels service and always offered his assistance to families with any general duties they needed.
In 2011 Colin was nominated for the 2010 Citizen of the Year Award, in 2015 Colin and Margaret had their names inscribed on the Division 10 Town and Country Volunteers Honour Board, an acclamation of their service to the community.
The couple celebrated their Diamond wedding anniversary on May 11, 2023. At the time Colin was in hospital, but the day was made special through cutting his favourite sponge cake with Margaret, with all of the family around them.
Colin was a loving, kind and hardworking man, who was known for his loyalty, strong principles and his devotion to family.
