Opening the Conference weekend and officially recognising Landcare Tasmania's 25th Anniversary at Government House, her Excellency the Governor the Honourable Kate Warner addressed the 153 attendees at the vice regal reception. Trish Hodge from Nita Education gave a Welcome to Country, and guests were treated to canapes and bubbles to mark this significant occasion.
Tasmanian Premier's Landcare Award winner, Dr. Graeme Stevenson
The winner of the inaugural Tasmanian Premier's Landcare Award, announced by Premier Will Hodgeman and presented by Her Excellency the Governor Professor Kate Warner, was Dr Graeme Stevenson from Somerset. Graeme is well recognised as a living Landcare legend in Tasmania for his widespread work promoting the use of earthworms and dung beetles in management of agricultural soils, both in his professional career and now extending into his retirement. Graeme has also worked with and coordinated many Landcare projects integrating biodiversity into farm management in north west Tasmania. He is also active in providing education about soils and soil health to school students, through his alter-ego Dr Spluttergrunt. Graeme has twice been a finalist nationally for the Bob Hawke Landcare Award and this year was the Tasmanian Senior Australian of the Year Awards. The award presentation at Government House was Graeme's second trip to the Governor within a week, having also been announced as Tasmanian Senior Australian of the Year. Two very deserving awards for a truly outstanding Tasmanian Landcarer.
Landcare Tasmania's Honourary Life Members:
George Rance, Chair of the Landcare Tasmania Board, announced the four Honourary Life Members.
Recognising unique contributions to Landcare through their work with Landcare Tasmania, the winners were nominated by members of the community for their outstanding contribution to Landcare Tasmania, or to the community Landcare movement, over an extended period of time.
Recipients: Brian Baxter, Don Defenderfer, Lyndley Chopping. Not present: Gwendolyn Adams
Landcare Tasmania's Roll of Honour:
Rod Knight, CEO of Landcare Tasmania announced the Roll of Honour Recipients. The Roll of Honour recognises a person who has made a long standing or significant contribution to a local Landcare group. Nominations were made by members of the community throughout the past year.
Recipients: Jenny Baxter, Flora Fox, Gwen Egg, Marina Campbell, John Counsell, Helen Eastburn, Jayne Shapter, Jillian Weston, John Bell, Maria Weeding, Paul Thomas, Phil Watson, Ross Eastburn, Tom Dunbabbin, Lexie Paul (awarded posthumously, collected by Sarah Facey). Not present: Hazel Britton, Peter Broad, Richard Donaghey, Patricia Ellison, Jim Nelson, Ian Sauer, Jean Taylor
