This scientist's Eureka moment prevented multiple Australian extinctions

"It was one of those rare moments in a scientist's life, it's called a eureka moment," the 71-year-old told The Senior.

At the time, botanists had no idea how to grow thousands of Australian plants, leaving many species teetering on the brink of extinction.

"We had a problem," said Dixon, winner of 2026 WA Senior Australian of the Year.

"We had well over a third of our Western Australian native plants, about 2500 species, that we couldn't germinate."

Scientists had observed the Australian bush after bushfires, noticing that burnt bushland often exploded into new growth - but attempts to replicate the germination by burning had failed to produce the same results.

"For about 100 years people thought it was heat and ash - but we still could not germinate."

Dixon began to consider the role of smoke in germination, and after a year of work, he and his team spotted new life bursting from the soil in their greenhouse at Kings Park Botanic Garden.

While Dixon knew his discovery was significant, he was unprepared for how groundbreaking his research, published in 1994, would go on to be.

"It has revolutionised Australian plant growing."

Dixon won 2026 WA Senior Australian of the Year for his continuing dedication to Australian plants, which has meant numerous endangered plants have become commonplace, with nurseries now easily able to propagate shrubs, trees and grasses.

"I feel really uplifted that in my life I was able to give back to the bush and nature," Dixon said.

Dixon said his love of nature began when he was about three years old, when he used to wander around an overgrown bush block in Perth's northern suburbs.

As a child, he marvelled at a pink summer starflower, or Calytrix fraseri, a species from the myrtle family native to Western Australia's south-west corner, which bursts into star-shaped magenta blooms in spring and summer.

"I'm still growing it, and every summer when it comes open I just get filled with joy," he said.

"It's wonderful that nature can do that to you, because life has its ups and downs, but the downs are much better when you're surrounded in nature."

Human beings crave time in nature, and having regular connection with trees, plants and the natural world, even by regularly visiting a local park, can reduce your risk of mental health issues, according to a 2005 study from Deakin University.

The study found people who regularly spent time in natural settings were more likely to have good health, and those that lived nearby parks or bushland were more likely to be satisfied in their jobs, and proud of their homes.

Dixon continues to surround himself in nature, and lives in a home surrounded by 160 acres, the size of about 40 football fields, of bushland.

"I spent my life pursuing being around nature, being around the bush, and being around my beloved native plants," he said.

Australians are being urged to nominate another inspiring individual, like Dixon, to become the next Australian of the Year.

Dixon said his nomination came like a "bolt from the blue" and he was so certain he would not win that he had no acceptance speech when his win was announced at a ceremony in January.

"It's made me reflect and realise that what we do is appreciated," he said of the win.

"When you understand that, it actually drives you to strive and be better."

You can nominate anyone to become the next Australian of the Year, even if you do not personally know them.

Nominations simply require that you explain who you are nominating, what they have achieved and why it is important to our country.

There are four categories recognising Australians each year, with Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year (for people aged 65 and over), Young Australian of the Year (between 16 and 30 years old) and Australia's Local Hero.

Nominees are then selected by each state or territory, and winners represent their state at the national awards announcement, planned for January 25, 2027.

Nominations for the 2027 Australian of the Year close on July 31, 2026. To nominate an inspiring Australian, visit australianoftheyear.org.au.

ACM, publisher of this masthead, is media partner of the 2027 Australian of the Year Awards.