Petition to save Woolworths butcher Ross Habermann garners over 600 signatures

Hundreds of customers of a popular Waurn Ponds butcher have launched an emotional plea to save his job amid savage cuts from a supermarket giant.

Richie Dyer is campaigning to save the in-house butcher service at Waurn Ponds Woolworths. Picture: Alison Wynd

Hundreds of customers of a well-known Geelong butcher are petitioning his employer to keep him around.

Ross Habermann has been plying his trade in the region for over 40-years, with customers following him wherever he goes.

But as Woolworths move to get rid of their butchers, his job at their Waurn Ponds store looks to be in doubt.

Waurn Ponds resident and loyal customer, Richard Dyer has since launched a petition that already has over 600 signatures.

“It went ballistic,” Mr Dyer said.

Waurn Ponds butcher Ross Habermann with a petition asking for his butcher shop to remain a part of Woolworths Waurn Ponds.

“People were down there queuing up to sign this freaking petition.

“I’ve had to take another 10 sheets down there.”

He said keeping butchers like Mr Habermann around should be integral to the Woolies’ business model.

“It’s the way of the world,” he said.

“They’re wrapping everything in plastic then charging you 15 cents for a paper bag, it’s just terrible.”

According to Mr Dyer, Mr Habermann is “a local character who loves a chin wag”.

“He’s had people follow him around wherever he’s gone, they come and grab their meat off him,” he said.

“He loves giving out horse racing tips. Never accept them.”

Mr Habermann’s last day as a butcher is scheduled on June 22, but he will remain with the company in another role.

A Woolworths spokesman did not answer if the petition would save the butcher if it was received.

“We’re always looking for ways to operate our stores more effectively for the benefit of our customers and team members,” he said.

“Customers continue to make the move towards our more convenient prepacked options, so we’ve made the decision to close our Waurn Ponds meat service counter.

“We appreciate this will be a change for customers at this store, but we’ll continue to offer high-quality fresh meat through our wide selection of pre-cut case-ready meats that are conveniently packaged to pick up on the go.”

Woolworths confirmed no redundancies would come with the change.

The company conducted a review on the viability of meat service counters back in 2022 and closed 250 of them in 2023.

Originally published as Petition to save Woolworths butcher Ross Habermann garners over 600 signatures