Day to honour accident victim

The passing of Somerset farmer Robert Morey in a tragic farming accident on May 23 has greatly impacted those who knew and admired him around the state.

He farmed Flexmore Park at Penna and two other grazing properties at Copping before retiring to the red soil and rolling hills of Somerset. His son Phil continues the legacy of innovative farming on ‘Flexmore Park’.

Throughout his life Robert was involved in many agricultural and community organisations. 

These included Sorell Rural Youth, where as a young man he excelled and participated in an exchange trip to New Zealand and later served as State President of Rural Youth in 1973.

Competition ploughing in Rural Youth led to a lifelong involvement with the Tasmanian Ploughing Association and he successfully competed at local, state and national levels, culminating in representing Australia at the World Ploughing in the Netherlands in 1990.

This early display of leadership and community spirit was backed up during many years with involvement in the Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania, Bream Creek Show Society, Coal River Products Association, Coal River Landcare Group, Penna Landcare Group (founding member), Penna Recreation Association and more recently the Wynyard Show Society and Wynyard RSL.

Coal River Products member and longtime friend, Noel Beven described Robert as a leading, dedicated farmer and agriculturalist, highly respected by his peers. He greatly admired Robert’s ability to work hard and improve his own lot as well as that of others.

His ability to ‘drought-proof’ Flexmore Park with the implementation of extensive irrigation throughout the property allowed for diversification of his farming practices including establishing a walnut orchard in conjunction with Vecon. 

He was environmentally aware and planted pine trees as woodlots to reduce wind erosion and produce saleable timber. He continued this practice on a smaller scale at Somerset, planting many oaks and other species.

Friends and family have organised a memorial service at Bream Creek Showgrounds at 2pm, Sunday, July 13. 

It will be an opportunity for the wider agricultural community to come together to share stories and experiences while reflecting on their time knowing Robert.