For five-time gold winners Brad Burkitt and Gaye McVilly, the secret to a good pie is all in the pastry.
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The Terang Country Bakery owners won five gold and one silver medal for their pies in the Great Aussie Meat Pie competition in Sydney.
"It's our third time entering, but the first time we've won so many gold medals," Mr Burkitt said.
"There were over 1500 products entered over the four days.
"You have to bake it at your own bakery and then take it up, so we flew ours up there.
"It's all in the pastry, it's mostly about having the right thickness top and bottom to be able to bake it properly. That's what it comes down to."
The winning pies were their chicken and vegetable, eggs Benedict, plain (two gold medals) and pepper, while their farmer's pie won silver.
They source all their meat from Warrnambool, and eggs from a farm in Terang.
"It's important to support local business as a local business ourselves," Ms McVilly said.
"It was very exciting when we found out we'd won, I was driving home and was so overwhelmed I had to pull over.
"People always tell us they took a detour or special trip because they've heard about our pies, which not only brings business to us but to the town generally."
Mr Burkitt is coming up to his 10th year as a baker.
It was a profession he 'fell into' at the start but is now his life's passion.
"I did my apprenticeship in Timboon and fell in love with it," he said.
"For me this competition is a pretty big accomplishment, especially because it's on a national level.
"I always get very nervous awaiting the verdict."
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