Ministers' creation is Best in Show

Two South West olive oil producers have picked up awards at the 2012 Perth Royal Show, which saw the highest proportion of gold medals awarded in the show’s history.

Preston Valley Grove, of Donnybrook, was awarded the Best Flavoured Oil of the Show and a silver medal for their chilli flavoured oil — and St Boniface Cathedral Olio Verde Novella, of Karridale Olive, won the Best Boutique Oil of the Show.

Karridale Olive is owned by the Dean of the Bunbury’s St Boniface Cathedral Stewart MacPherson and his wife, Rev. Sarah MacPherson, who originally planned to become full-time olive farmers when they moved back to Australia.

‘‘God had other ideas and we were both called to ordination and left the farm to minister full-time,’’ Dean MacPherson said.

‘‘We have only been able to harvest the olives with the help of family and friends from the congregation.’’

Preston Valley Grove owner Michael Ryan said the process used to make their infused oil contributed to the win.

‘‘We put the chilli in with the olives when they get processed so they go through the plant together, so the flavour gets into the oil through the olive oil extraction process,’’ Mr Ryan said.

‘‘Others do it by adding an essential oil to the olive oil, but my view is putting the freshly picked chillies in with the olives gives it a much more complex flavour.’’

It is the first time Preston Valley Grove had entered the chilli infused oil in the Perth Royal Show, but they have had success with it in national shows in the past two years.

The oils will be on display in the WA Pavilion at the Perth Royal Show from this Saturday until October 6.