Winners are Grinners at Arnold Family Butchers Boort

Published on 16 February 2016

Kane Arnold’s Thai Chicken Sausages have taken him a long way.

They’ve become a firm favourite in his home town of Boort, earned him some fancy silverware and have now landed him in Brisbane, to line up against the best in the country.

Kane, owner of Arnold Family Butchers, was a finalist earlier this month in the 2016 National Sausage King Awards, sponsored by the Australian Meat Industry Council.

It was the first time he’d entered any industry competition and he came third.

“The Sausage King competition starts at regional level early in the year before moving on to state level, where we won first place for our poultry sausage and took second for our home-made bacon,” Kane said.

“It was a fantastic experience for us – great to mix with the leaders of our industry.

“The weekend included a ‘meet and greet’ on the Friday night, a butcher’s breakfast sailing down the Brisbane River, a trade show and the awards dinner at night.

“Our winning poultry sausage is one I believe in and our loyal customers continue to buy it, so we keep making it.

“All the chicken we use is from Hazeldene’s and the herbs are grown and harvested locally.”

Kane was born and raised in Wedderburn and started his apprenticeship at Chalmers Butchers in High St.

After six years there, he moved to Bendigo for further work experience

“I’ve been here since 2012, working with my brother, Jye, full-time and my wife, Brooke, when she’s not teaching,” he said.

“We have a full list of gourmet products and do all our own smallgoods, plus private packaging for farmers and supplying the IGA stores in Boort and Charlton.”

In other community involvements, Kane is on the local football club committee, while Brooke is secretary of the Boort Business and Tourism Council.

The couple has a five-year-old son, Finlay.

“We bought the business from Rob Sim, who owned it for about 50 years,” he said.

“It was always going to be tough taking over from Rob, but he left the place in excellent order.

“We’ve loved this place ever since we moved here.

“We have a new school, a new hospital on the way, the recreational lake and more.

“It’s an ideal place for young families like ourselves.”