The Governor and Mrs Chernov visited Shaw River Buffalo at Yambuk yesterday afternoon as part of their tour of the Moyne Shire. 

They were shown through the cheesemaking room where His Excellency pitched in to help staff pinch freshly made buffalo mozzarella into balls ready for packaging.

The family-owned business has been operating for the past 19 years, with husband and wife team Roger and Jan Haldane and their children at the helm. 

The Haldanes pioneered the buffalo cheesemaking industry in Australia and Mr Haldane said it was a thrill to have the Governor and Mrs Chernov on site. 

“His Excellency was very interested in the process. He has a great interest in farming and wanted to know how we go about milking the buffalo,” Mr Haldane said.

“Mrs Chernov was also very interested and I think they both liked the products they tasted.” 

The businesses employs 15 staff and produces six varieties of cheese as well as buffalo yoghurt and milk from the factory beside the Shaw River in Yambuk. 

Mr Haldane said the buffalo mozzarella was their signature cheese. 

“Mozzarella is the signature style of cheese in southern Italy. I want buffalo mozzarella to become the signature cheese of western Victoria,” he said. 

“Our mozzarella is used on Qantas flights and our yoghurt is used in their lounges at airports around the country.” 

Last night the vice-regal couple attended a civic reception at Charlie’s on East in Port Fairy before dinner at a local restaurant. 

Today Governor and Mrs Chernov will walk along East Beach to view works to stabilise sand dunes before travelling to Tower Hill to learn the region’s indigenous culture. 

The couple will then visit Woolsthorpe where the Governor will unveil the refurbished war memorial and enjoy lunch at Woolsthorpe Primary School before travelling to Hawkesdale to plant a tree. 

The final stop of the tour will be Nirranda where they will inspect the new community recreation facilities and share afternoon tea with locals.