It has been a big week for Wyong’s Little Creek Cheese company with owners Russell and Sue Parsons shipping off their special entries to the Royal Sydney Easter Show yesterday.

The award-winning Central Coast cheese artisans hope to add to the company’s medal tally in 2017.

Last year they won 27 medals in competitions across Australia, including five Gold’s at Royal Shows around the country.

Russell is most proud of winning Highest Scoring Club Cheddar in Australia at the prestigious 2016 Dairy Industry Association of Australia competition, with Little Creek’s sensational Onion Cheddar.

“We beat ‘em all,” Russell says proudly, “all the big names like South Cape and Margaret River, and we did it producing cheese right here on the Central Coast.”

A proud Coastie, Russell is an ambassador for the Central Coast’s This is the life promotion.

“We really have the best of all worlds here on the Coast.  I encourage all Coasties to tell their friends and families how wonderful the place is,” said Russell

“We’ve received great backing from the local community and local businesses stocking our products.

“The support we’ve received has just cemented why we love living where we do, it’s all about the people and the community.”

“When we are at markets outside the region, such as in the Hunter Valley, and people try our products and see our awards, they are surprised we come from the Central Coast.

“A certain amount of pride comes out of that not only for us, but for the region which doesn’t yet have a big reputation for gourmet produce.

“Together with other Coast food producers we’ve formed the Central Coast Food Collective to try to change all that!  We hope in our own small way, we are making a difference.”

As for the Royal Sydney Easter Show, Russell expects stiff competition and is hoping for at least one Gold medal.

“I’m a little bit superstitious about revealing what our entries are, but we will definitely have another crack with the Haloumi and a few other varieties,” Russel said.

“I know it’s a bit cheesy to say but it’s true – even if we don’t win, the real winner is cheese itself.

In 2017 Little Creek Cheese is expanding into gourmet flavoured salts, starting with a grinder pack of “chilli, basil and garlic” and “lemon myrtle, peppercorn and garlic” flavoured salts.

“We’re working on a few other varieties too,” Russell hints.  So watch this space!

Little Creek Cheese can be found at the Wyong Milk Factory on Alison Road, Wyong.