Bunnings blames 'slight miscommunication' over vegan sausage sizzle bunfight

Little Oak Sanctuary co-founder Kate Luke said she was taken aback by the "beef option" request because she had previously held three successful vegan-only sausage sizzles at Bunnings in Fyshwick, Belconnen and Gungahlin over the past five or six years.

"We are not going to sell the bodies of the animals we are trying to save, not now not ever," she said.

After being contacted by The Canberra Times, Bunnings blamed "a slight miscommunication" and said Little Oak Sanctuary was welcome to hold both barbecues at the Fyshwick store as planned - and use only vegan sausages.

However, Ms Luke said, as far as she was concerned, there had been no miscommunication. She had stated on the application form several months ago that vegan sausages were all that would be sold.

"They were very clear," she said. "I asked several different times and they repeatedly said we absolutely could not go ahead without a 'beef option'."

Following the Bunnings statement, Ms Luke said the whole experience had "left a bad taste in my mouth" and Little Oak Sanctuary would now probably hold the barbecues at another venue.

Ms Luke, with her partner and co-founder James, runs the farm animal-rescue sanctuary on the Kings Highway at Manar, between Canberra and Braidwood.

With the sanctuary now holding its winter appeal for hay, feed and vet care over the colder months, the sausage sizzles were expected to raise several thousands of dollars to add to the appeal.

Ms Luke said the sanctuary had booked a community sausage sizzle at the Fyshwick Bunnings for June 23 and was offered another one, on August 4, by the store's activities officer.

On Tuesday this week, Ms Luke said she received a phone call from the same activities officer saying she had seen the sanctuary's posts on Facebook promoting the event as a vegan sausage sizzle. The activities officer said the sanctuary had to provide "a beef option" or else could not proceed with either barbecue.

"Obviously, we are not willing to do this. We are not going to sell the bodies of the animals we are trying to save, not now not ever," Ms Luke told sanctuary followers on Facebook on Wednesday.

Ms Luke said she had been planning this week to purchase more than $1000 worth of sausages for the upcoming barbecues but luckily had not yet bought them.

"A lot of effort has gone into organising this event, and we were counting on the funds for our winter fundraiser, we are devastated that Bunnings has made this decision," she said.

Ms Luke said previous vegan-only sausage sizzles held by the sanctuary for wildlife affected by the drought in past years had been successful.

"We had a great response because there is a whole section of the community who usually cannot participate in a Bunnings sausage sizzle," she said.

"We had people travelling from Tuggeranong to Gungahlin just to buy a vegan sausage sandwich at the barbecue."

If people did not want like the vegan sausages, they didn't buy them and that had been the end of it, she said.

Ms Luke said the Bunnings' application form for community barbecues stated: "Please discuss with your store if you would like to sell sausages that cater to specific dietary, lifestyle, and religious preferences, such as vegetarian, vegan, organic, Kosher or Halal"

"Is it policy to discuss this with the store so they can flat-out tell you you can't do it? Because this wastes everyone's time," she said.

Ms Luke said she had written to the head office of Bunnings seeking clarification on what food could be offered at its community barbecues.

Bunnings regional manager David Williams released a statement on Wednesday saying the Fyshwick store had not cancelled the barbecues.

"For several decades Bunnings has been supporting thousands of local community groups via our fundraising sausage sizzles. Our team loves the fact many families make it a tradition to come down to their local Bunnings store on the weekend and support some great organisations," Mr Williams said.

"We always try to cater to the preferences of community groups where possible, and we allow vegan-only sausage sizzles provided they're discussed prior with the store, in line with our guidelines.

"Our Fyshwick store has recently been speaking with the Little Oak Sanctuary about hosting two upcoming fundraising sausage sizzles.

"Unfortunately, there was a slight miscommunication, and we're working to contact the group to let them know we're more than happy to honour their two scheduled fundraising dates."

Ms Luke reiterated she had told Bunnings the event was vegan-only and that she had been told to provide a beef option.

The Little Oak Sanctuary is now caring for more than 300 rescued farm animals including sheep, cattle, horses, pigs and roosters.

It was where Canberra's famous Chris the sheep spent his final years until he passed away in 2019.

The link to donate to the Little Oak Sanctuary Winter Appeal is here.