The Mirror News

Clean Green Gippsland

 

• The Chinese media treated to nothing but the best that South Gippsland has to offer. • Mayor Ray Argento presents cheque to Luke Haustorfer and the students of Toora Primary School with Viplus CEO Peter Cunningham.

THAT’S the message the Economic Development Team in South Gippsland and Viplus Dairy promoted when they hosted a tour of various Gippsland producers, showcasing the quality and variety of Gippsland’s world-class agricultural sector to Australian and Chinese Media.

The day commenced with a morning tea at Viplus Dairy in Toora, with a brief talk and introduction by CEO Peter Cunningham to the waiting media.

Mayor Ray Argento then made a presentation of a cheque from Viplus for $5000 to the Toora Primary School.

The children came along, all dressed up in their cow onesies, with principal Luke Haustorfer.

“This will be very helpful for us. It will help us to deepen the work we’ve been doing on our student wellbeing and engagement,” said Luke. “It will create better opportunities for the kids. A massive thank you from all of us at Toora Primary School.”

The Mayor said the money would be used for a shipping container ‘playpod’ full of recycled items for imaginative design and play for the students.

Everyone was given a tour of Viplus Dairy’s state of the art milk powder facility.

Then it was time to head off on a tour of the region with the media where they visited 5 producers and stopped for lunch at Moos in Meeniyan.

“It was a wonderful and unique opportunity to promote South Gippsland produce to the Chinese,” said owner Marty.

Marty slow cooked beef from Paul Brock’s Gippsland Natural. He also served up flathead from Wayne and Linda Cripps of Port Franklin. He used local olive oil and showcased local wines.

“It’s great that Viplus has that connection to the Chinese media,” Marty said.

CEO Peter Cunningham explained that Viplus now supply not just China but Cambodia, Singapore and the Middle East as well.

Ken Fraser, Coordinator of Economic Development and Tourism at the South Gippsland Shire, said that they were able to showcase smaller producers as well as larger ones.

The group went to Gippsland Natural, Moos in Meeniyan, the Duck Hutt and Produce Store, Meeniyan, Prom Country Cheese in Moyarra and Loch Brewery and Distillery.

The Chinese journalists can now write about just how wonderful the region is from first hand experience.

“They can now say with confidence what a great place South Gippsland is for doing business plus what a great place it is to grow and process food,” said Ken Fraser.

“The food sector is attracting people to come and live here to set up businesses and also visitors who want our food and wine.”

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