Where “Meat Raffle” Comes From
A meat raffle is a raffle in which the prizes are trays of meat, such as sausages, steaks and chops. It’s a pub and club tradition used to raise money for local groups. The older “chook raffle”, where the prize was a chicken, is the same idea.
The raffle tickets are cheap, and the prize is often a week’s worth of meat.
“We’re off to the pub for the meat raffle.”
How Aussies Actually Use It
You’ll hear it at pubs, RSL clubs and footy clubs across the country.
In Real Life
Meat raffles are a staple of the Australian pub: a night of tickets, a spinning wheel and a tray of snags for the winner. They often support a local charity or sports club. Locals say it’s about the fun more than the prize. Like all gambling, it should stay light-hearted, and you must be an adult to join in.
Quick Questions
What do you win in a meat raffle?
Trays of meat, such as sausages, steaks and chops.
What’s a chook raffle?
An older version, where the prize was a chicken. The phrase is also used for any small community raffle.
Say It Like an Aussie
Say it: MEET RAF-ul.
In conversation:
- The meat raffle is on at 6.
- I won a tray of snags in the meat raffle.
- Dad’s a regular at the meat raffle.
Good to know: Raffles are a form of gambling, so you must be old enough to take part, and it’s wise to treat it as a bit of fun. A related old phrase is the “chook raffle”, where the prize was a chicken.
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