A lifetime of service to regional WA has been remembered following the death of former farmer, Nationals MP and Narrogin community figure Robert (Bob) Wiese at the age of 85.

Known for his dedication to farming, politics and helping others, Mr Wiese spent decades advocating for country communities while building a reputation as a respected voice across the Wheatbelt.

He passed away peacefully on June 22.

Born on his family farm in Narrogin in November 1940, Mr Wiese grew up with a strong connection to agriculture and returned home after school to continue farming.

His passion for rural communities led him to become involved in the Young Farmers movement and into the Young Country Party, before entering local government.

Mr Wiese served as a Shire of Narrogin councillor from 1969 to 1987, including eight years as deputy president.

During his time on council, he also represented country local governments through regional organisations and contributed to several community committees.

In 1987, Mr Wiese entered State Parliament after winning the Narrogin by-election before later representing Wagin from 1989 until his retirement in 2001.

During his parliamentary career, he served as a leader and as Minister for Police and Emergency Services.

Away from politics, Mr Wiese remained a familiar face in Narrogin with his involvement spanning agriculture, sport and community organisations.

He was a member of the Pastoralists and Graziers Association, supported the Narrogin Infant Health Centre and was involved with local football, tennis, basketball and cricket clubs.

Later he married his wife Christine and had three sons Tim, Mike and Ant, now with nine grandchildren and one great grandchild.

His son Mike said his father’s motivation was never about seeking a position of power, but about helping people and being there for the community.

“He joined young farmers to learn all the latest science and he also joined what was then the Young Country Party,” he said.

“He was mostly interested in helping people whether that was other farmers or people in Narrogin.

“The Young Country Party was where they got together to discuss those things and discuss the representation of rural life that tends to still be ignored by the powers that be in the city.”

Mr Wiese said his father was a familiar and well-loved community figure with connections built through his work on the farm, involvement in sport and commitment to helping others.

“As a young man he played football either with or against everybody in the community . . . and as a farmer he bought fertiliser and machinery (from people) or sold grain and sheep to most people in town,” he said.

“A memory of this as a young boy is it would take him three quarters of an hour to walk down one block of Federal Street just because he would stop to have a chat with pretty much every second person.”

Mr Wiese said politics and current affairs were part of their childhood.

“The house (growing up) was always full of newspapers, bullet magazines and Time magazines, and so our early reading material was the National Geographics, and flicking through the bullet and looking for the editorial cartoons,” he said.

“We would go along to the conferences and saw the internal workings of how policy gets decided, even though we probably couldn’t understand what was going on.”

While Mr Wiese’s election to Parliament was a significant achievement, his son said his father’s time as Minister for Police and Emergency Services was when he was able to make an even greater impact.

“He became the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, and that was a big change,” he said.

“I think his motivation for getting into politics in the first place wasn’t to be a minister or anything like that . . . but he just was compelled to help people just navigate the maze of government bureaucracy.”

Roe MLA Peter Rundle said Mr Wiese’s dedication to the community continued well beyond his time in Parliament with his involvement in regional issues remaining strong after retirement.

“He stayed involved with the party — him and his wife Chris always attended our branch meetings and any local functions,” he said.

“They used to also come along to State conferences every year as well and talk about motions and other things that were going on.

“He was still contributing, but in the right way, just putting constructive points across.”

Mr Rundle said Mr Wiese’s strong community ties were a defining part of his legacy and helped shape the respect he earned across the region.

“Bob was one of those guys that was involved in the community, he played a lot of sport in his footballing days, and the local tennis club and so forth but he was just one of those community people and no doubt that was why he got elected as well,” he said.

“He had a great impact on the region.

“I just want to send my condolences to Chris his wife and their three sons and extended family, and no doubt we will also have a condolence motion in Parliament in the months ahead for Bob and his family.”