Balob founder honoured with King’s medal

Balob founder honoured with King’s medal

On 12 October 2026 Frederick Stolz OL OAM was awarded the King‘s Papua New Guinea 50th Anniversary Independence medal by His Excellency Sir Bob Dadae, Governor-General of Papua New Guinea, for his significant service to education; including as founding Principal of Balob Teachers’ College, as a Church worker through the Lutheran Mission in Papua New Guinea.

Mr Stolz, aged 91 years, attended the investiture at Government Haus in Port Moresby accompanied by his wife Mrs Lois Stolz and his grandson Mr Brenton Kanowski – who is also Consul-General of Australia to Papua New Guinea, based in Lae. Other attendees included St Peters Indooroopilly congregation members Ms Theresa Stolz (daughter) and husband Mr Anthony Kanowski (son-in-law), Mrs Jenny and Mr David Danslow, Ms Lorelei Baum, and Mr David and Mrs Naomi Radke (both of whom were also PNG ‘mission kids’).

Mr Stolz‘s contribution to education was ‘significant’ according to the Governor-General, with ‘over 15,000 graduated primary school teachers [who] have served every corner of Papua New Guinea since the College’s founding in 1965.’ Balob continues to this day as a strong educational institution in Morobe Province thanks to the visionary work of Mr Stolz and his pioneering staff.

Fred and Lois Stolz are members of Grace Lutheran Church, Redcliffe.

Images: Mr Stolz with the King’s medal; with PNG Governor General Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae who performed the investiture; with wife Lois.