What happened to ’90s favourite Ranger Stacey? TV presenter Stacey Thomson resurfaces years later – and she still looks great at 56
Ranger Stacey is a familiar face for many Australians who grew up in the 1990s.
The TV host, whose real name is Stacey Thomson, introduced a generation of children to native wildlife during her appearances on Agro’s Cartoon Connection from 1990 to 1997.
And while she doesn’t work with Agro the puppet anymore, Stacey, 56, still presents segments on long-running children’s program Totally Wild.
What happened to ’90s favourite Ranger Stacey? TV presenter Stacey Thomson has resurfaced years later – and she still looks great at 56. Pictured with puppet Agro in the 1990s
Totally Wild has been in production for the last 25 years, and Stacey has fronted animal segments since 1992.
The show now airs on Channel 10’s new, youth-focused multichannel 10 Shake.
In addition to Totally Wild, Stacey is a public speaker who specialises in educating women about the environment and sustainability.
Professional: while she doesn’t work with Agro the puppet anymore, Stacey, 56, still presents segments on long-running children’s program Totally Wild, which now airs on 10 Shake
Stacey also hasn’t lost her sense of humour, despite parting ways with outspoken Agro years ago.
Earlier this year, she took to Instagram to share a series of ’90s throwback photos of herself, Agro and Ranger Tim.
‘The way we were! Found these during a COVID clean-out!’ she wrote in the caption.
Remember this? Ranger Stacey appeared on Agro’s Cartoon Connection from 1990 to 1997
Totally Wild, one of the longest-running children’s programs in Australian history, won seven consecutive Logie Awards from 1991 to 1997.
Stacey starred alongside Jamie Dunn as Agro and presenter Ann-Maree Biggar, who was later replaced by Terasa Livingstone.
She was brought in after producers were impressed by her work as a ranger and education officer at the heritage-listed St Helena Island National Park in Queensland.
All-star cast: Stacey starred alongside Jamie Dunn as Agro and presenter Ann-Maree Biggar (right), who was later replaced by Terasa Livingstone
‘I was kind of on loan and I would go record a whole week of animal segments for Agro on Saturdays,’ she told The Courier Mail in 2017.
Stacey used to drive to the studio for the pre-recorded segments with her ‘van full of animals’, but often these trips were hazardous.
‘I remember one time I took a dingo up there and I’d picked it up from Lone Pine [Koala Sanctuary],’ she recalled.
Passionate: In addition to Totally Wild, Stacey is a public speaker who specialises in educating women about the environment and sustainability
‘On the way and I’m driving along and I look in the rear-view mirror because I can hear all this noise in the back and this dingo is ripping the rubber off from around all the windows and I can’t do anything about it.’
Stacey ended up marrying freelance cameraman Rob McCall. The couple share two teenage daughters, Bridget and Madi.
In the same interview, she said the best thing about being ‘Ranger Stacey’ was mentoring young people in the TV industry.
Family: In addition to her time in the spotlight, Stacey went on to meet freelance cameraman Rob McCall (pictured). The pair share two teenage daughters, Bridget and Madi.
‘We have a lot of young, new presenters coming through and I like mentoring them because it’s their first job in TV,’ she said.
‘I remember how it was… a big learning curve,’ she added. ‘I give any advice I can.’
Mentor: ‘We have a lot of young, new presenters coming through and I like mentoring (them) because it’s their first job in TV,’ Ranger Stacey said