Prue Freeman’s Lammo Drive UK peps up expats on Australia Day 2021 during lockdown

Expats living in the UK are turning to one of our most beloved edible icons to celebrate Australia Day a little differently.

Comedian Adam Hills is hosting a virtual Australia Day gig, as celebrations are continuing in Britain despite a harsh third lockdown.

Homesick Australians have planned virtual parties across England on Tuesday.

A flood of lamingtons has been sent around the UK, with a new company having a surge of orders to coincide with Australia’s national day.

And Australian themed cafes, which are only open for takeaway because of the coronavirus restrictions, are offering free coffee to people who order in an Australian accent.

Prue Freeman, 39, originally from Ballarat, in Victoria, owns 11 cafes across London that have been shut during lockdown, has shifted her business to making lamingtons.

Prue Freeman runs Radio Lamington in London, which started after coronavirus closed her cafes. Picture: Supplied.

Radio Lamington, which operates out of a bakery linked to one of her cafes in Paddington, started making lamingtons to give to National Health Service workers in March last year.

Volunteers started the campaign, with lamingtons given away to nearby hospitals.

Now it has gone national, with more than 50,000 given away across the UK, with every customer’s order matched with a donated box of lamingtons to the NHS.

“We started baking lamingtons because our chefs had nothing to do, and people volunteered and we started a rota,” she said.

“We were giving lamingtons to St Mary’s Hospital across the road and then others asked for them. The ambos, about 20 per cent of them are Australian, started asking for them.”

Ms Freeman has launched UK wide next day delivery to coincide with Australia Day.

She was aware and sympathetic to the change the debate campaign in Australia and Cricket Australia’s decision to remove celebrations from its January 26 game.

“But I think the two should be able to coexist. People need a day to feel good about things too,” she said.

Everyone loves a lammo. Picture: Supplied

“I think we should be able to celebrate and try to work around it.”

Adam Hills will appear in a Zoom comedy show on Tuesday at 7am Australian time (8pm UK time), which was being advertised as an Australia Day special.

“Adam Hills is one of Australia’s best-known comedians, mainly as the five-time Gold Logie nominated host of his two hit ABC TV series – the music quiz show Spicks and Specks and his unique take on the late night talk show, Adam Hills Tonight,” an advertisement for the show said.

Prue Freeman runs Radio Lamington in London. Picture: Supplied.

“And what’s more, this show takes place on Australia Day.”

Artisan Coffee, which has four outlets across London, was offering free coffee for anyone who ordered with an Australian accent on Tuesday.

And The Regent pub in Balham, south London, was selling cook-at-home chicken parmigiana boxes for homesick Australians.

This year’s events have been made harder, with many Australians stranded in the UK because of strict flight caps that have sent flight costs soaring.

There has been debate among Australians on social media about changing the date of Australia Day celebrations, with suggestions including the first Friday in February to guarantee a long weekend.