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An Australian manufacturer describes saveloys as “sausages made from quality pork and beef finely minced with mild seasoning filled into distinctive red casings and naturally woodsmoked.” Australians may or may not believe the words ‘quality’, ‘finely’, ‘mild’, ‘distinctive’, and ‘naturally’, but they expect their saveloys to be defiantly, gloriously red. Boiled saveloys prompted a memorable Australian phrase, “fair suck of the sav.” The original meaning appears to have been lost, although it is possible that it refers to what has been called red soup. In times of hardship, ‘saveloy soup’ is the red water in which the saveloy is boiled; it forms the main meal, and as a treat one gets a suck (not a bite) of the saveloy itself. That sausage is saved to serve another day. The term could also have evolved from, “Fair crack of the whip,” which appeared in 1924 in the Sydney paper Truth, and “fair suck of the sauce bottle,” both colloquialisms meaning an equitable opportunity or a reasonable chance. The following appeared in 1972 Bulletin Sydney, “Humpries goes down under a knuckle sandwich, his mouth and detached teeth so reddened you can see he’s had more than a fair suck of the sauce bottle.”
Traditionally saveloys were eaten boiled. How long Australians have been battering them, let alone battering footballers, is uncertain.
The earliest reference I could find for the word “saveloy” in Australia, although it is impossible to tell if they were battered, was a Victorian paper called, West Wimmera Mail – Dated June 20, 1919 Mrs A. I. EKMAN Wishes to notify her many patrons that she has removed her business from ANTONY's buildings to the V.P.C. depot adjoining Mr M. WHELAN's Hotel, Main St., where she hopes to receive a continuance of the patronage hitherto enjoyed. Fruit and Confectionery.Ham and Eggs, Saveloys.Supper Parties catered for.Orders taken daily for Pastry and Cakes.Afternoon Tea a specialty. Fondly named ‘Battered Savs’, in Australia, they have prompted some infamous Australian phrases, including "fair suck of the sav." It was used in the past as an interjection when somebody was taking more than their fair share, and is often used to describe ‘not being given a fair go,’ or ‘taking more than your share.’  Page from Australian Flavour
Read more about Australian food and the recipes that we have grown into as a nation. Australian Flavour – The Story of Australian Cuisine Includes more than 150 recipes.
References “1919 West Wimmera Mail Extracts. Western Victoria, Australia” WEST WIMMERA MAIL - June 20, 1919. Retrieved 15 Feb 2008 “Regional Place Names.” ABC World Map Retrieved February 15 Feb 2008 “Savloyes.” Hans Product Lines. Retrieved 15 February 2008 |
