WA town's iconic farm shop dazzles to bring home the cheddar
Melville Park's Barbara Connell and David Doepel managed to dazzle the judges at the prestigious event last month, taking home gold for their Caerphilly cheese, three silvers for their Buff Mozzarella, Gouda and Halloumi and bronze for their yogurt.
It was the first time the husband and wife have entered any competitions, though the pair have been making cheese for several years after starting with a home kitchen kit during COVID and moving up to opening their cheese factory 18 months ago.
Still developing their skills, Ms Connell said it was gratifying — and a bit surprising — to earn so many awards at the event. Melville Park's David Doepel and Barbara Connell. Credit: Craig Duncan
'On one hand, it's really surreal, but on the other hand, we've worked really hard to learn the craft and get better at it,' she said.
'It's a lovely kind of reinforcement of a really crazy notion.'
Ms Connell said when she first told people their plans to make cheese at the farm they'd likely think she was crazy,
'When we started saying to people, 'we're gonna make cheese here', people said 'OK, take the sharp scissors away from the girl',' she said.
'So it's really kind of nice to be recognised, and to feel like we set out to do something, and we've accomplished it.' Melville Park's award winning cheese. Credit: Craig Duncan
Mr Doepel — a former biologist — said cheese making was the perfect mix of biology and art which celebrates the history of the region bringing something unique to the world.
'You could count on two hands the number of artisanal cheese makers in Western Australia, so it's not like you're trying to find room for your gin on the shelf with 50 other companies — it's unique, it sells itself, and people value it,' he said.
'And we get incredible satisfaction out of making something, creating something, and then have people respond to it.'
Mr Doepel said he was 'gobsmacked' and 'encouraged' by their cheese winning so many awards.
'It's the first time we've entered, and I was nervous as, when we went up to the awards, because you go and you think, 'OK, I'm going to be there with all our peers, what happens if they don't call your name out and then you're embarrassed in front of your peers,' he said.
'But exposing yourself to formal criticism like that is also how you learn, and we're really proud.'
South West icon Harvey Fresh also had major success in this year's competition, earning champion unflavoured milk and the most successful WA dairy exhibitor in the competition.
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