But instead of walking away from the profession that has earned Mr Lillywhite national recognition, he will instead move on to his new project – establishing a cheese

factory in Coolamon.

Mr Lillywhite, who will be out and about selling his cheese at the Farmer’s Markets in coming weeks and chatting with Riverina residents about what they would like to see at the cheese factory, said Coolamon is his town of choice and he hopes to have the new factory up and running within the next six months.

“It is going to be called the Coolamon Cheese Factory,” he said.

“Coolamon is an amazing town.

“It is friendly, it is progressing.”

Despite his previous concerns that Charles Sturt University may not sell the cheesemaking equipment to him, Mr Lillywhite said he has been encouraged by the support of residents to keep the cheese factory up and running.

“They want to keep it as an attraction in the Riverina,” he said.

“I have a very strong vision and strong plans.”

Mr Lillywhite will meet with CSU executives at a mediation session on Thursday, March 1, where they will discuss the remaining conditions of his contract with CSU.

A spokeswoman from CSU said the university looks forwards to being able to settle the matter at the mediation but the disposal of equipment and assets is not a matter associated with the contract and therefore not a matter for mediation.

“The university plans to dispose of equipment that it considers to no longer be required and will do so in accordance with its policies,” she said.

“This is a matter that the university has communicated to both Mr Lillywhite and his legal advisors several times.”

Mr Lillywhite said he had chased up funding and had investors lined up to back the new venture, on the provision he provided the equipment – which may now have to be sourced from sellers across Australia if he cannot buy the equipment from CSU.