Dalby agent Marilyn Brazier dies after sudden illness

Mrs Brazier, aged 62, spent the last 44 years as a livestock agent working at the Dalby Saleyards.

She entered the agency game at 18 and while she attended the Dalby cattle sale in her role as the office girl, back then, it was sight unseen for female staff.

Fast forward the next 40 years, and Mrs Brazier was a familiar face as the controlling partner of Tom Knox and Co, owning two-thirds of the business with a staff of four.

Livestock agent Noel Cosgrove has worked at the Dalby Saleyards for the past 50 years, and knew Mrs Brazier the whole time.

"Marilyn was very much respected, and a hard worker," Mr Cosgrove said.

"She was a terribly kind-hearted and generous person, but a little strong willed.

"We all referred to her as the 'queen of the saleyards', as she was a legend."

Dalby Livestock Agents Association president Brock Simpkins, Nutrien Ag Solutions, said Mrs Brazier's presence would be dearly missed.

"She was highly regarded among the agents," he said.

"After hearing of her death, we opened last Wednesday's sale with a few words dedicated to her, which were delivered by Peter Bird of Ray White Rural, followed by a minute's silence."

Mr Bird said Mrs Brazier had been a valued member of the saleyards community for 44 years and was a successful businesswoman in what is a male dominated industry.

In the early 1990s Tom Knox offered Mrs Brazier a third share of his business, as he wanted to semi-retire and take a lower profile, and she became a hands-on livestock agent.

She could be found in the drafting yards on a Tuesday evening, and up on the catwalk beside her auctioneer each Wednesday at the sale, and trucking cattle out until late in the night.

Mrs Brazier was married to stud stock auctioneer, Peter Brazier for nearly 39 years.

Together they worked their separate, successful agency careers under the same roof, as Mrs Brazier juggled her role as a livestock agent, wife, and mother to their sons, Tim and Steve.

She was privately cremated in Toowoomba on April 3.

The family will plan a celebration of her rich life once the coronavirus restrictions are lifted.

Mrs Brazier is survived by Peter, sons Tim and Steve, their wives Justine and Ashlee, and three dearly loved grandchildren Marnie, Isobel and Charlie.