The award was presented as part of the prestigious Royal Agricultural Society of NSW President’s Medal event at the Sydney Royal Easter Show on Tuesday night. It continues “a crazy list of firsts” for Tathra Oysters Gary Rodely said.

“This was a surprise one – right out of the blue,” Mr Rodely said.

The Rodelys said they had travelled to the RAS function with fingers crossed they could potentially be in the running for the prestigious Presidents Medal – the inaugural one of which they claimed in 2006 and almost again in 2012.

Mr Rodely said he thought the Presidents Medal judges must’ve have been so impressed by all entrants’ innovative practices they decided a separate award was warranted.

“All farmers are innovators, but oyster farmers maybe more so – we often have to make our own gear, which needs to survive in the outdoors marine environment.

“We’ve had 30 years of working out our environment and building our business to suit that environment.”

DPI director general Scott Hansen said the new award recognised Tathra Oysters’ outstanding innovative achievements in the food and beverage sector.

“Tathra Oysters’ innovation in boosting their productivity to speed up growth and produce more consistent size oysters for their market makes them worthy winners of the inaugural DPI innovation award,” Mr Hansen said.

The award was presented by NSW Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair.