Page 9 - Australian Pork Newspaper

Sharpest butchers selected for international challenge
KNIVES have been drawn – in professional fashion – as butchers from across the country have put their skills to the test seeking to be- come part of the pres- tigious Australia Steelers representative team.
Now six of Australia’s finest butchers have been selected as part of Team Australia to compete at the World Butchers’ Chal-
lenge that will be held in the US next September.
Teams from all over the world will be compet- ing at the ‘Olympics of Meat’ in a three-hour test of skills, innovation and presentation.
Team captain Adam Stratton from Sydney’s Tender Gourmet Butchery said the selection process had been fierce, balanc- ing both the existing skills
and experience of return members with new talent. “The World Butchers’
Challenge pitches teams of six butchers against each other, testing their butchery skills, ability to create innovative value- added meat products and to present the judges with quality finished prod- ucts,” he said.
“We did really well at the 2018 event, bringing home third place and a swag of other prizes, so we are hoping to do even better in 2020.
“That’s why we’ve un- dergone a multi-stage se- lection process that en- couraged butchers from across Australia to apply, while also balancing both experience and team re- newal.”
The team selection was finalised recently after a three-hour test of skills on the Gold Coast under the
watchful eye of selectors, including Mr Stratton, who had been confirmed to stay on as captain af- ter being selected in the World Team in 2018.
The Australian Steelers will be:
• Adam Stratton, Tender Gourmet Butchery, NSW; • Paul Brady, Tender Gourmet Butchery, NSW;
• Colin Garrett, Colin’s Butchery, NSW;
• Luke Leyson, Good- wood Quality Meats, South Australia;
• Daniel McCarthy, A Cut Above Family Butch- er, Victoria; and
• Dale Spencer, Eumun- di Meats, Queensland.
Mark Rogers, Staple- ton’s Quality Meats, NSW, and Tom Bouchier, Peter Bouchier Butchers of Distinction, Victoria, were selected as reserve members of the team.
“It’s an honour to re-
main captain of this team and I congratulate the new Steelers team members on their selection,” Mr Strat- ton said.
“I look forward to seeing what we can create and
achieve during the next 18 months.”
The selection for the Young Apprentice and Young Butcher members of Team Australia will oc- cur on April 17, 2019 at
the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
Team Australia will compete at the World Butchers’ Challenge in Sacramento, California, US in September 2020.
Adam Stratton returns as team captain.
Izzy snags a ‘pear’
of deadly bags at
Sydney Airport
The Australian Steelers took out overall third place in last year’s World Butchers’ Challenge.
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EVERY dog has their day and biosecurity de- tector dog Izzy recently had hers – detecting over 10kg of undeclared and illegally imported fruit and meat products in a passenger’s bags.
Head of Biosecurity Lyn O’Connell said the pas- senger had put Australia at risk, as meat products can carry a range of dis- eases, including foot and mouth disease.
“Izzy was doing some routine sniffing when she responded to a passenger’s bag and our biosecurity officers soon found out what had caught her nose,” Ms O’Connell said.
“They found almost 8kg of nashi pears, 2kg of or- anges, 325g of chicken meat and more than 2kg of pork products that in- cluded pig meat, sausages and trotters.
“These types of meat products can transmit diseases that would be devastating for Australia, including African swine fever and FMD.
“A further search re- vealed the passenger was also carrying 650g of nashi pears in another bag.
“There is no excuse if you bring these or other biosecurity risk items to Australia.
“Either leave them at home or don’t be sorry and just declare them.”
If it arrived in Australia, FMD could cost our econ- omy billions and take a decade to eradicate.
Fragments of FMD and ASF were recently de- tected in pork products intercepted at Australia’s airports and mail centres, so the risk is real.
The fresh fruit in the passenger’s bag could have been harbouring dis- eases and pests such as citrus canker and fruit fly.
Both could have a devas- tating impact on Australia’s horticulture industries.
The goods were de- stroyed and the passenger was issued an infringe- ment notice.
“Our dogs do a great job sniffing out potential risk items, but every passenger that travels to Australia has an obligation to fol- low our conditions,” Ms O’Connell said.
“It can save you time and money, as well as en- sure you are doing your part to keep our country free of deadly pests and diseases.”
For more information on items that should not be brought to Australia, visit agriculture.gov.au/travel ling
Izzy the biosecurity detector dog.
www.porknews.com.au
Australian Pork Newspaper, April 2019 – Page 9