Australia Day 2015

The sun was shining on Preston Market on Monday 26th January when the Market celebrated Australia Day. The popular Lancashire Market was filled with Australian Flag Bunting and traders throughout could be seen wearing Cork Hats and Kylie Minogue masks.  Boomerangs were also seen in abundance together with dozens of patriotic Kangaroos wearing the Aussie flag perched on stall counters.

Outdoor buskers dressed in Shark outfits could be seen and heard playing traditional and modern music with an Aussie theme. Inside the public were hopping along to the demonstration stall which was all decked out with beach side scenery.

On the demonstration stall were Preston Chef Derek Smith and Lady Milena Baines who was one of 669 Jewish Children living in Czechoslovakia  in 1939 who escaped from the Nazis and then made her home in Preston. Lady Milena a great friend and supporter of the Market in Preston and Derek were serving up a rather unusual feast. Kangaroo burgers,  Kangaroo Sausages and Kangaroo Meatballs, sourced from Australia that  were jumping off the stall in large numbers as Preston folk more used to eating the traditional beef or pork were trying Kangaroo.
Australia day Preston Market

Market Manager David Bullock couldn’t wait to try the food on offer and was delighted with the product. If the burgers were served up in a restaurant I would be more than happy to try them again. I also loved the Aussie bangers. Throughout the day I was talking to customers and everybody said they would be happy to try again. Clearly one or two customers didn’t fancy the opportunity to try something different but that happens with lots of foods which are different or unusual

The one question being asked throughout the event was why you are celebrating Australia day in Preston Lancashire. It all started with the office receiving requests for stalls with some rather unusual addresses. We soon realised that folk in Australia were emailing Preston Market in Lancashire by mistake and whilst we were more than happy to accommodate new traders, the distances traders would have to travel to join the Casual queue at 7.45 in a morning was rather long!

A googles search revealed that at the other side of the world in Melbourne Australia another popular Preston Market existed.  We then made contact and thought it would be a great idea to share ideas and what better way to start than by celebrating Australia Day which is a National Public Holiday.

David Bullock Preston Market Manager
D.Bullock@preston.gov.uk
www.preston.gov.uk/businesses/markets/