General News
21 May, 2026
Creekside wins Parma of the Year
Warracknabeal’s Creekside Hotel has taken out Parma of the Year at the AHA state awards, giving the recently reopened country pub a major boost and putting the town’s local favourite in the spotlight.
Warracknabeal’s Creekside Hotel has taken out Parma of the Year at the AHA state awards, giving the recently reopened country pub a major boost and putting the town’s local favourite in the spotlight.
Pub owner Skye Dubignon said she and Creekside team member Jacquelyn Devlyn were shocked when the hotel’s name was called at the awards night.
“I just did not believe it,” Ms Dubignon said.
“Literally just before they announced it, we were sitting there, and I’m like, we have no hope.
“I said, we’re out, and it was our last award for the night.
“We were up against so many other amazing venues that I was like, we’re done for the night basically, and then he called the name, and I literally screamed.”
Ms Dubignon said the award meant more than just recognition for a popular meal, as the Creekside Hotel had been operating under her ownership for only about six months.
“This reflects both of the properties and all of my staff, as they have all done such incredible work together,” she said.
“The chefs talk to each other, and this is a huge thing for both of them.
“I’m putting it up at Creekside, and it’s just amazing that six months in, we won gold.
“People go to these year after year for years and get nothing, so it’s just incredible.”
Ms Dubignon also owns the Welshpool Hotel in Gippsland, where she said her team helped develop the menu and supported the Creekside kitchen team.
She said the win had already generated excitement among locals and visitors, with people calling to congratulate the hotel and new bookings coming in after the award was announced.
“Everybody’s been amazing,” she said.
“Jackie’s up at Creekside today, and she’s been messaging me all day with lovely people commenting and coming in for lunch and saying congratulations.
“Many locals down here as well, congratulating and having it on the news and putting Creekside on the map, so it’s been great.”
The winning parma has been on Creekside Hotel’s menu since the pub reopened and remains one of its most popular dishes.
Ms Dubignon said the kitchen uses a slightly different method when preparing the parma, placing the ham first, then the tomato sauce, then the cheese, to help keep the topping together and allow the cheese to caramelise.
“I think it’s the caramelisation of the cheeses on top that makes it different,” she said.
“I think that by having that on there, it just gives it that extra.”
She said the dish was traditionally served with chips and salad, and customers could choose gravy, pepper, or mushroom sauce on the side.
The hotel has also run parma specials, including loaded and meat lovers options, and plans to introduce a Thursday night parma night once the menu is finalised.
Ms Dubignon said the award belonged to the Creekside kitchen and front-of-house staff.
“I’m behind the scenes,” she said.
“I’ve gotten the pub back open.
“ I’ve put all the hard work into getting it open, but really, I’m not the one there dealing with the customers every day.
“It’s the kitchen team, and it’s the front-of-house team up at Creekside that have really brought this home, and they should be so proud of themselves, and they deserve full credit.”
Ms Dubignon said local support had been vital, especially after the Creekside Hotel had previously been closed for about 12 months.
“At the end of the day, in country pubs, we need our locals to support us because without them spending money, we’re not open and we don’t have jobs,” she said.
“Having the locals supporting us means the world.”
The Creekside Hotel shares the award with Newborough Hotel and Lindenow Farmers Home Hotel.
