Taroom local Grace Brodie is both humbled and honoured to receive her Order of Australia award

She initially joined the pony club 60 years ago in 1961, and still holds positions including member of state chief instructors panel, technical delegate for the sporting and campdraft disciplines and member of the state management committee - zone 5 delegate. Her other roles include being the Pony Club of Queensland vice president (1991-1999) and regional director of coaching, western region, since 1990. She was made a life member in 1996.

Mrs Brodie and her late husband Michael bought Riverview at Taroom in 1954. It was a 8900 hectare property, an open paddock with no improvements or infrastructure, and together they have improved it. She still lives on Riverview and her youngest daughter Edwina Keating manages the property.

A horsewoman to her boot straps, Mrs Brodie who is mother to six said "she was born in the saddle". She chuckled and said all her children "all went to pony club as they weren't given any other option."

"I have 11 grandchildren and some were pony club members and four great-grandchildren of which Addyson is a member of the Taroom Pony Club," she said.

Over the years Mrs Brodie has also trained racehorses, competed at campdrafting, played polocrosse and has broken in many young horses.