Steve was born in England. He was originally an aircraft mechanic/pilot. He then moved into ambulance and nursing work. In 2002 he bought "Pride of Oak" in Canowindra as well as pursuing a career as a Naturopath. He learned a lot through being an agricultural proof reader with the Tasmanian Department of Agriculture.

He found that the price he got for his stock was always less than expected. He then decided to breed Dorpers but found nobody was interested at the sale yard. After trying to have his sheep slaughtered and then sell them did not produce the results he hoped for he decided on an on farm abattoir. There was no guarantee that he would get his license but he went ahead and built it regardless that even though he had a meat inspector's certificate there was still not guarantee that it would all come together.

However through persistence Steve finally got licensed as a domestic abattoir. Steve is licensed for both red and non-red meat and specialises in sheep, goats, pigs, alpacas, chooks and ducks. He sells directly to the public and his meat has no chemicals in the meat and even uses non chlorinated water. He has seven staff on the property to help with farm work/abattoir work/ butchering.

He does private kills for hobby farmers, organic producers and market growers.

His flock of Dorper sheep are run on grass and are not grain fed. Dorpers produce on average 20 per cent more meat. They are not a wool producing sheep with their protein going into producing muscle and meat.

With his sheep there is minimal handling with no dogs used to do the herding. The aim is for stress free handing and leading to tender meat.

Skins are tanned on the property and sold to the public as well as specialists. Steve sells his meat regularly at various farmers markets.

Such is the interest in what he is doing that he has hosted international fact finding tours from such diverse countries as South Korea, Samoa and Vanuatu. He has featured with being interviewed in TV shows such as Landline.

He is actively working and consulting with other people to get community abattoirs up and running.

On other matters it was also announced at the meeting that the fundraising target for Vivienne Wells to attend the International Youth Science Forum in London has been achieved. This year's candidate to attend the National Youth Science Forum in Canberra in January is Maddison Johnson.