The award-winning business has qualified as a finalist in the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW President’s Medal competition. 

“It’s a lovely award, and a pat on the back for Tathra Oysters,” Tathra Oysters owner Gary Rodely said.

“But it’s also a lovely reminder of what a great industry the local oyster industry is.

“It fits a lot of the modern criteria people are interested in.” 

Tathra Oysters were the inaugural winners of the President’s Medal when it was first run in 2006, then were finalists for the award in 2012. 

Mr Rodely said if they are successful this year, they will be the first organisation to win the award twice. 

In addition to product quality, he said the award takes into account the social, financial and environmental impacts of businesses, as consumers want to know more about those factors. 

“We all want to know where our food comes from,” Mr Rodely said. 

“It’s a really modern award, breaking away from the traditional awards of just how good your product is.”

He said the oyster industry was a low carbon emitting industry in general.

Tathra Oysters do not use chemicals in the growing process, use long-life sustainable materials and their waste product is basically oyster shells, which are used to stabilise the road through National Park to the farm at Nelson Lake. 

President’s Medal chair of judges Simon Marnie said this is the ultimate agricultural award for excellence in Australia and he was pleased to have Tathra Oysters back in the finals.

“Gary and his team have achieved nomination into a very exclusive club of elite producers who are at the apex of agriculture in Australia,” Mr Marnie said.

“Nominees in this award category are a select few and so, while winning the President’s Medal is a fine honour, being nominated is a stellar achievement.” 

A site tour of Tathra Oysters will take place in August before the winner of the President’s Medal is announced on November 25.