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Big hART founder Scott Rankin named Tasmanian Australian of the Year for 2018

AN award-winning theatre director, writer and arts charity leader has been recognised as the Tasmanian Australian of the Year for 2018.

2018 Tasmanian Australian of the Year Winners, from left, Tony Scherer (Senior Australian of the Year), Judi Adams (Tasmanian Local Hero), Jessica Manuela (Young Tasmanian Australian of the Year) and Scott Rankin (Tasmanian Australian of the Year) Picture: LUKE BOWDEN
2018 Tasmanian Australian of the Year Winners, from left, Tony Scherer (Senior Australian of the Year), Judi Adams (Tasmanian Local Hero), Jessica Manuela (Young Tasmanian Australian of the Year) and Scott Rankin (Tasmanian Australian of the Year) Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

A THEATRE director, an organic farmer, a dentist, and a woman who has raised more than $400,000 for breast cancer research have been named the 2018 Tasmanians of the Year.

Boat Harbour’s Scott Rankin, a theatre director, writer and founder of arts charity Big hART, was named Tasmanian of the Year.

Mr Rankin is the charity’s chief executive and creative director, and leads a team that helps tell the stories of regional, remote and urban Australian communities.

“Wherever you look there are hidden stories and people get hurt because the rest of us don’t know,” he said.

“Our thing in terms of our work is to make sure that the people on the margins are included in the telling of the story ... Including people in the community can solve a whole range of other issues.”

Big hART director Scott Rankin with star and co-creator of <i>Tjaabi</i>, Ngarluma community member Patrick Churnside.
Big hART director Scott Rankin with star and co-creator of Tjaabi, Ngarluma community member Patrick Churnside.

MORE: BIG HART HOPES TO LAND PARTNER AFTER WINNING TELSTRA GONG

Organic farming pioneer Tony Scherer, who moved to Australia from California in 1990, said he was especially honoured to be recognised in his adopted country.

Mr Scherer was named Senior Tasmanian of the Year.

He has been promoting sustainable farming methods for more than 50 years and, as a founding owner of Frogmore Creek Wines, has shown organic viticulture was possible and profitable.

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Innovative farmer Tony Scherer, the father of organic and sustainable farming in Tasmania, in his garlic patch at his Penna property. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE
Innovative farmer Tony Scherer, the father of organic and sustainable farming in Tasmania, in his garlic patch at his Penna property. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

Mr Scherer has been keen to help other farmers learn about organic methods, and in 2012 he co-founded the not-for-profit Sprout Tasmania to expand and encourage organic and sustainable farming businesses.

Channel dentist Jessica Manuela, 29, was named Young Tasmanian of the Year.

Ever since she was a child Dr Manuela has enjoyed going to the dentist and she wants to help change the perception of dentistry so that others do not fear the dentist.

She said about half of the first-time patients she sees are fearful of dentistry.

“I really want to change that perception,” she said. “Dentistry has come a long way.”

Dr Manuela has also developed a scheme with the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the South East Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation, which started in April, that helps indigenous Tasmanians access dental care. “It’s pretty early days but ... we’re seeing stabilisation of dental disease,” she said.

Dr Manuela said she was also seeing improvements in the patients who had come to her after years of avoiding seeing a dentist.

“Really nervous patients come back, we get their mouths sorted and then they come back for their preventive health checks,” she said.

“Building relationships is so important.”

Moonah’s Judi Adams was named Local Hero.

Judi Adams, left, and Sue Hillam training for the El Camino in Spain to raise money for breast cancer research. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE.
Judi Adams, left, and Sue Hillam training for the El Camino in Spain to raise money for breast cancer research. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE.

Ms Adams took on the voluntary chairwoman position for the National Breast Cancer Foundation’s Hobart committee and in 14 years has raised more than $400,000 for breast cancer research.

One of Ms Adams’ most recent fundraising efforts was tackling Spain’s Camino de Santiago, raising $15,000.

The four Tasmanians were recognised in a ceremony at Government House in Hobart yesterday and will join a cohort of 32 state and territory recipients in the national awards, to be held in Canberra on January 25.

To find out more about the awards, click here.

Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/entertainment/events/big-hart-founder-scott-rankin-named-tasmanian-australian-of-the-year-for-2018/news-story/450bf9a2b8781d145df41cbf847025f0