The Supreme Champion is a prestigious award which many breeders aim for their entire lives, without success. It is the second highest award at the show.

However, the Heazlewood family has done it in just six years and with `its back-up' competition cow.

Cumbria Buttermere Duchess the 7th, affectionately known as `Dunny' because of her `dun' colouring, surprisingly secured the supreme title.

Dunny was ranked the poorest cow in her category during her last attempt and was an elderly age for show-cows in the competition, at the age of nine.

Kerry Heazlewood said the family was shocked to see Dunny take the Senior, Grand and then Supreme Champion titles in swift succession.

``I was completely blown away, I cried which was very embarrassing when she got `best in class','' she said.

``She (Dunny) then won Grand Champion and the Supreme Exhibit and I couldn't believe it.

``Our other cow had got sick and Dunny was brought in with a calf-at-foot. It's quite a recognition from your peers and other breeders.''

The Heazlewood family of Pine Gully Park stud farm have a particular passion for the Belted Galloway or `Belties', an extremely rare beef breed of cattle. And strangely enough the prized stud farm started as a high school project by the owner's son, Richard, seven years ago.

Kerry said her son had been encouraged by his agricultural studies teacher to take his interest in farming further by purchasing a Belted Galloway.

At the time the Heazlewood family was living in an apartment two blocks from Safety Beach along the Mornington Peninsula.

``We bought our foundation cow, `Tessie', and obtained a horse property. Then she had to have a friend... and then eventually we brought a ranch here (in Yallourn North). We now have about 30 head of cattle.'' she said.