On the 17th of December about 20 campaigners from the No Maccas in the Hills campaign descended upon the Victorian Regional Office of the McDonalds corporation. Tired of being ignored by McDonalds we decided it was time to take the fight to them in person.
We decided to go with a Christmas theme and the most apt one was to lable “McDonalds the Grinch who stole Tecoma’s Christmas”. In full Christmas regalia and our protest T-shirts we turned up at their door in Smith St Collingwood, (next to their drive through outlet on Victoria Parade). We stood at the main entrance holdiing up our posters and performed a carols which had been changed to have a No Maccas in Tecoma message (see below).
We then decided to try and send a small delegation of campaigners into the building to deliver a Christmas card which had been signed by a large number of campaigners the day before at our Christmas picnic, some copies of the beuatiful videos by Tim Smith (PUT IN LINK) and some drawings done by some of the junior members of the campaign. The door however to the Victorian regional office was locked so Peta and Shane used the intercom system to ask if they could come inside to deliver the gifts, however, like all attempts to communicate with Maccas, we were greeted with silence. We therefore helpfully delivered through the slot in their mailbox.
We then moved around onto the steps of the store on Victoria Parade where we continued carolling whilst our campaigner Simone did a live interview with 3CR’s “Dirt Show”. We recieved numerous honks of support. After some discussion we decided to go into the store to perform one carol. Despite our beuatiful voices we were once again ignored by McDonalds staff.
Disapointingly although Channell 7 and 9 attended and took much footage we didnt make the cut for the news that night but we did make it into MX and into the local papers such as the Free Press Leader.
All of us attended agreed it was empowering to finally take the protests to the doors of McDonalds and this will be the first of many visits to come. See you in the New Year Maccas!
Text by Jane
On the steps of the Victoria Parade store
Delivering our gifts
Carolling in the store
Some of the Carols
Jingle Bells
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells
Jingle all the day
None of us want McDonalds
Up Tecoma Way, hey(X2)
Steaming through the hills
on Puffing Billy Ride
Devonshire teas
In the country side
Hiking through the forest
Singing Chrissy songs
We dont need Maccas in the Dandenongs
Deck the Halls
Tis the season to be jolly
Fa la la la, la la la la
Bring a picnic and a brolly
Fa la la etc
Have a beer and cheese and crackers
Fa la la etc
Tell the world we dont want Maccas
Fa la la la la, and burger off
Little Drummer Boy
Note: Saffron Cottage is the Indian Restaurant that will be demolished to build the Tecoma McDonalds. Hippy Haven is the long time cafe that will be demolished too.
Weeee love Saffron and their pappadums dums
and Hippy Haven too and pappadum dums
So please dont tear them down
o pappadum dum
We need small bussiness here o pappadum dum, pappadum dum, puppadum dum,
So to honour them o pappadum dum
Please don’t come
Not in Tecoma, o pappadum dum
It is a tiny town, o pappadum dum
You’ve no real gift to bring o papadum dum
You’re not fit for our hills o pappdum dum, pappadum dum, puppadum dum
Shall you hear our plee o pappadum dum
Please dont come
Council nodded o pappadum dum
They heard the people’s voice o pappdum dum
We spoke up loud and clear o pappadum dum
How can we make you hear? O pappdum dum, pappa dum, pappadum
Please, respect us, o pappadum dum
Please don’t come
M
