media release

8 January 2009

Sam Kekovich: eat lamb and fix the economy

With the world in the midst of a financial crisis Sam Kekovich is pointing the finger of blame directly at one group, and one group only: over-paid fat-cat bankers.

In his much anticipated Australia Day address to the nation Sam empties both barrels at the unAustralian behaviour of “bottom feeding, billionaire bankers”.

“We need to return to the egalitarian values that made Australia great, embodied in our national dish: the barbecued lamb chop,” Sam says.

“A chop tastes the same in a designer outfit as it does in stubbies and thongs. Which reminds us you don’t need to be an overpaid, pin-striped parasite from a millionaire’s factory.”

“To be truly happy, you just need a chop and a cold one.

“The short-selling, rogue-trading, corporate crooks may disagree with me, but they can go jump. And if they don’t know the way I’ll push them in the right direction.”

In order to stop the wave of banker-led unAustralianism Sam is calling on the nation to serve lamb on Australia Day and “be Sam Kekovich”.

Sam even draws inspiration from US president-elect Barack Obama in his annual address.

“I need every Australian – the whole bloody lot of you – taking up the tongs and being Sam Kekovich,” Sam says.

“Can we change things if we all unite as a nation? Yes we can!”

Sam’s address will go to air on television on Sunday 11 January. It can also now be viewed online at www.mla.com.au/samk2009video.

Sam’s address will continue to be televised until 26 January and will be supported by online advertising and in-store promotions.

Sam will also be taking his message to the streets this year, with a national tour to all state capitals in the week leading up to Australia Day.

Since his first tongue-in-cheek address to the nation in 2005 Sam Kekovich’s Australia Day campaigns have continued to strike a chord with Australians. The week leading up to Australia Day continues to be the biggest trading period for lamb each year, with supermarkets and butchers recording huge increases in demand and quite often selling out of some lamb cuts.

Ends

Media resources:

Click here to access high resolution still images from the television advertisement.

Click here to watch the television advertisement now.

Released by: Damon Whittock, MLA Media Affairs Manager, ph. 02 9463 9368.