Not here to F@#k Spiders Australian Tour 2024 for Heath ‘Chopper’ Franklin

By Samantha Elley

Hold on to your hats and block your children’s ears, comedian Heath ‘Chopper’ Franklin is coming to town.

The winner of both the Comic’s Choice Award at the Melbourne Comedy Festival in 2018 and the Best Comedy at Fringe World 2018 is not here to f@#k spiders but he will be appearing at the Byron Theatre this Thursday, November 14 at 6.30pm.

The Northern Rivers Times decided to ask Mr Franklin a few questions.

What made you decide to get into the comedy business and how did  you get there?

I always liked making people laugh but I never thought comedy was a viable career so I just did it as a hobby at uni. Then with a bit of persistence and luck I finally got to turn my hobby into a job.

What was the hardest/easiest topics you had to cover? (ie. What has gotten the best/worst reaction from the audience?)

The hardest topic to cover is anything boring. Quarterly business activity statements for example aren’t fertile soil for comedy but luckily you don’t HAVE to cover that stuff. The easiest things to make comedy out of are things that don’t make sense but everyone accepts as normal. All you have to do is dismantle it in front of everyone and display its ridiculous components. Like explaining to people what’s in their sausage.

What are your thoughts on:

1. Israel/Gaza conflict

I think there’s no shortage of opinions on this one and I don’t see how adding mine makes things any better.

2. Trump back as president

It was America’s election, and they picked the person they wanted and good luck to them. I think there is an idea that the president is always an amazing righteous person but most of them lately have been corrupt, riddled with Alzheimer’s or sex pests so it’s only really movies and tv where the US President is infallible and upstanding.

3. Lydia Thorpe

I think it’s great that we live in a country where you can publicly disagree with a monarch, but I also think that particular instance did more to raise her profile than champion her cause.

4. Gen Z

I’ve started getting more young people to my shows lately and it’s awesome. I think everyone sees the version of Gen Z that’s on the internet and that is the most annoying version of them and not representative of the whole generation. Everyone forgets that you can just ignore all the dumb stuff people say on the internet.

As you will be performing at Byron Bay, would love to know what you like about the place (If you haven’t been here before, feel free to tell us what you think it’s like).

I haven’t been there to do shows ever, and I haven’t been there for about 20 years. I assume it’ll just be me hanging with Chris Hemsworth on the beach all day.

Chopper will be covering a host of other topics in his show including e-scooters, UberEats, Bluey, vegans, cyclists – everything gets a serve in this award-nominated show.

A genuine Aussie comedy icon, Heath Franklin has been nominated for two ARIAs, a Logie, won the Comic’s Choice at the Melbourne Comedy Fest and sold more than half a million tickets worldwide. So, harden up and book now to join Chopper for the best night out in yonks.

To book your tickets visit here.

Blueberry Prices Fall as Australian Supply Peaks Amid Seasonal Overlap

By Ian Rogers

Blueberry prices across Australia have dropped significantly, with punnets now selling for under $2.50 in most capital cities due to a seasonal surge in supply. Earlier in the year, a gap in supply led to prices soaring up to $20 a punnet in some areas. However, with production in full swing, Australians are enjoying more affordable prices as local farms reach peak output.

In Western Australia, this price decline is fuelled by a strong local supply, as blueberry production in the northern region winds down while production in the south ramps up. “What you’re seeing is a crossover between the two regions. This [price level] will be consistent for the next month,” explained Joshua McGuinness, Mountain Blue’s general manager of sales and marketing.

While many of WA’s blueberries are locally sourced, some are typically imported from the eastern states. However, recent biosecurity measures to mitigate fruit fly risks have limited imports, creating more demand for locally grown berries and supporting WA farmers.

Rachel Mackenzie, Executive Director of Berries Australia, noted that low prices in peak season do not pose a significant concern for growers, who base profit margins on annual averages. “We need to consider the whole season’s average price to ensure growers can turn a profit,” Mackenzie said.

With demand variations across the country, WA farmers are also taking advantage of interstate opportunities. Berrysweet owner Anthony Yewers shared that he plans to send fruit to South Australia to help meet supply gaps caused by recent adverse weather in the eastern states.

For more local news, click here.

Strong Global Interest in Australian Macadamia Farms

By Ian Rogers

The Australian macadamia industry is experiencing significant growth, attracting strong global interest, particularly in the Bundaberg region of Queensland, one of the country’s largest macadamia-producing areas. Recently, two well-developed and highly productive macadamia orchards spanning 1,512 hectares have been listed for sale, offering a rare opportunity for investment in this high-growth industry.

The first property, Winfield Orchard, covers 750 hectares and boasts 68,730 trees. It has undergone significant rejuvenation, including strategic limb and row removal and irrigation upgrades, resulting in a production of 1,043 tonnes of macadamias in 2024. Additionally, there are 48 hectares of vacant plantable land, providing an opportunity for further development.

The second property, Miara Orchard, spans 762 hectares and contains 33,703 younger trees planted between 2020 and 2022. In 2024, it yielded 13.9 tonnes, with production expected to increase as the trees mature. Both properties benefit from proximity to major transport hubs, ensuring efficient distribution to both domestic and international markets.

This surge in interest aligns with global trends and rising demand for macadamias, particularly in Asia, offering robust opportunities for Australian producers. The Australian macadamia industry has seen production increase from 35,200 tonnes in 2013 to 51,500 tonnes in 2021, highlighting the sector’s growth and potential.

For those interested in exploring macadamia farm investments, resources such as Farmbuy.com provide listings and guides to assist potential buyers.

For more local news, click here.