World tour ends at Ettalong

As a young butcher from Torquay, Peter Hutton left England in 1969 on a two-year working tour of the world.

He arrived in Australia in 1970.

He fell in love with the country and has remained here since.

Peter is now celebrating his 15th year trading as Peter Hutton and Son, family butchers, Picnic Parade, Ettalong.

He works with his 19-year-old son, Robert, who is a third-year apprentice, and butcher Alan Brooks.

Peter commenced trading in the store in 1988, having taken over from previous owner, Max Hayes, who moved into the video rental business at Kincumber and Wyoming.

It was Peter's first venture in his own business after having worked in butcher shops in the Kings Cross area and also having managed large butcher shops in centres including Warringah Mall.

Peter was originally a pork butcher as pork was always cheaper than beef or lamb in England and was therefore in greater demand.

He has seen many changes in the industry over the past 30 years.

"Until the early eighties, butchers were not allowed to trade before 7.45am or after 5.30pm and had to close on Saturdays at noon even though there were often queues formed wanting to buy their products", Peter said.

"With the introduction of meat sales in supermarkets, this soon changed, as the supermarket would be open to sell other items and had to have their meat section under wraps.

"The problem then was that many people bought their meat at supermarkets because it was more convenient to do so while doing the rest of their shopping and many butcher shops closed as a result", he said.

"Butchers are now clawing back some of that business because many supermarkets no longer have butchers on site and buy their meat pre-cut, packaged and gas sealed, often having come from interstate slaughter houses.

"We buy only the best quality meat and pay a premium price for it, but we believe that our customers appreciate the better quality even though it can be dearer than supermarket meat," Peter said.

One change in recent years was the increased restrictions on temperature control of displays.

"Open displays are no longer acceptable as the temperature at the top of the meat cannot be kept low enough without cold air curtains as can be found in supermarkets.

"Butchers have therefore had to change their shop displays to enclosed refrigerated cabinets at great expense", he said.

"Another change now means that we no longer see Council health inspectors but Safe Food Inspectors from the Federal Department of Health.

"This national control is good for consistency of standards around Australia and I expect it to be extended to all fresh food outlets in the near future including take away and fast food outlets and restaurants".

As well as being a butcher, Peter has an interest in early British military activities.

His alter ego is Sgt William Baker from the royal naval ship Sirius under Lt Capt. Tench in the NSW Corps of Marines.

In this guise, Peter can be found in command of a platoon of men in British military marine uniforms from the period 1788 to 1802.

The Corps donate its time educating people, as well as parading and firing muskets at events such as Woy Woy's Australia Day celebrations.

Cec Bucello, July 8