Gavin Pearce (Braddon, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Congratulations to Dr Graeme Stevenson, who was named the 2020 Tasmanian Senior Australian of the Year on Friday. Hailing from Somerset on the north-west coast of Tasmania, Graeme affectionately refers to himself as a 'poo-ologist.' He's a soil assessor, an agronomy consultant, a Landcare volunteer, an author and an educator. Graeme's particular passion is spruiking the benefits of introducing dung beetles and earthworms into gardens and pastures. Graeme's been a Landcare volunteer with the Elliott and Wynyard Landcare groups since 1993. During that time, he's managed almost $1.5 million worth of projects for Landcare in Tasmania. He's also been involved with the Somerset and Camdale Coastcare, Burnie Farmers Market, Tasmanian organic groups and more.

If all that isn't enough, Graeme shares his soil knowledge with school children as his alter ego Dr Spluttergrunts. He takes poo and his earthworms into classrooms and he spreads the good word about the importance of soil health. So you can imagine the important conversations that are held after school when mums or dads ask the question, 'What did you learn today?' and the kids answer, 'Poo.' Well done to Graeme for improving the health of our natural and working landscapes and encouraging people in our region.