The Good Life Brookfarm By S Haslam
Brookfarm’s Pam and Martin Brook were treechangers in the 1980s, and Brookfarm are a sponsor of the Writers Festival. The Echo asked Will Brook, current CEO and son of the founders, how he developed his business values. You grew up in Victoria, then your parents moved to Byron to transform an old dairy farm into a macadamia farm and eventually Brookfarm. Did you have much concept of the ‘family business’ as a child? By the time I was of an age where I knew what was happening the farm was already planted and growing – it was really just a part of our life. We would drive the inland road from Melbourne to Byron Bay just about every school holidays. Not many friends at school even knew about Byron Bay when we first started our quarterly pilgrimage. Were you involved in the original planting of the macadamias as a young child? Or planting of the rainforest? The original planting of the macadamias was done before I could have been any use to anyone. I was only three years old; the young trees were taller than I was. I remember watching the trees grow, however, each year growing stronger and taller as our paddock became a ‘real’ macadamia farm. The rainforest planting was something I was heavily involved in, from planting out huge sections of the forest to eradicating camphor laurel and lantana. Were you always a rainforest lover, into sustainability, or did these values grow on you? I have always been passionate and in awe of the rainforest and our natural environment. Over the years I’ve realised that my thoughts on environment and sustainability were inherent and influenced my perspective on business, family, and everything in
Touring Canada and Alaska Kathryn Watson of TravelManager says that you will be welcomed to a world of towering mountain peaks, lush green forests, iceberg alleys, cobblestoned cities, and red deserts when you travel with APT on a ‘Canada & Alaska featuring USA’ journey. This season APT has introduced a new travel style in Canada and Alaska with a range of ‘luxury small ship and expedition cruising’ itineraries. Kathryn says that you can get close to the action along the Inside Passage aboard a luxury small ship, making it a style of touring that is well suited to those hoping to make discoveries and gain insights on an in-depth, enlightening discovery tour of Canada and Alaska. She says that the famous Rockies mountain range is best seen aboard the Rocky Mountaineer from a GoldLeaf glass-domed carriage, and recommends taking one of what APT call their exclusive and unique Signature Experiences, such as meeting a mountie or spotting bears on a river safari. Another possibility is an Alaska Inside Passage Cruise with APT aboard a Holland America Line or Princess Cruises ship – you’ll stay in a guaranteed Verandah Stateroom as snowcapped mountains, hulking glaciers and historical harbourside towns glide past as your ship slices the glassy surface of the Inside Passage. 2019 ‘Earlybird specials’ are available now for a limited time only. For full details contact Kathryn Watson of TravelManagers, phone 0412 647 204 or email Kathryn. Watson@travelmanagers.com.au.
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I imagine your parents were keen to give their two young boys as much ‘country life’ as possible. Did your parents make you work hard on the farm? Looking back I feel I was very lucky to have a foot in both rural life and living in the city. I am proud to live rurally and couldn’t be happier to be in the location we are lucky to call home. The ‘country’ life we live is pretty much fun. My wife Jess and I love taking our kids for walks through the rainforest, jumping over streams, snacking on riberries. We certainly had some hard days on the farm but most of our jobs were just good fun. I hope our kids feel the same way when they grow up too. You purchase your ingredients within Australia wherever possible? I feel strongly about farming in Australia. As a country we grow fantastic food and our farmers need the support of both the community and industry. We will only consider importing Will Brook’s daughter Eva: the original macadamias in an ingredient if its source in Australia doesn’t meet our high Brookfarm products were planted when he was younger quality standards or if the crop is simply not available or grown than his own daughter currently is. Photo D Mincher. in the country. We will always support Australian farmers like ourselves first. In fact we are one of the only food manufacturers between. The real change is that I am conscious of how important still using Australian apricots (rather than the Turkish equivalent); other recent Australian additions include delicious local walnuts these values are for our society, for the community, and for and sunflower seeds. industry.
A Perfect Byron Oasis By Terase Davidson The Pass Café is a Byron classic that consistently keeps serving up good vibes and great food, set in a tropical oasis hidden away from the crazy crowds and traffic jams, with the icing on this tropical oasis cake being that The Pass Café is less that 100m from the ocean – YAY! We used to go to this cafe when we were kids when the offering was a rather simple 70s affair of hotdogs, ice-creams and milkshakes. Thankfully the food has well and truly advanced with the times and a menu that is jam packed with big flavours and plenty of healthy choices too. On a recent trip my breakfast buddy Amber and I managed to score my favourite table, outside with a sneaky view of the ocean through the trees, and a glimpse of the Sea Shepherd vessel, which just so happened to be anchored in the bay! Now I have to confess that I wouldn’t normally go for a smoothie, but boy oh boy was I glad I did on this occasion! I took a flavour party leap of faith and ordered the nourishing Green Vegan Smoothie for $10, further flavour lov’n’ proof that you don’t need to be vegan to enjoy a plant-based smoothie dance with a Byron Bay flavour goddess… oh yeah, and a full plastic-free straw big high-five shout out to The Pass Café crew too! So what is so great about The Pass Café? Well apart from the delicious food, super-duper friendly staff and the friendly bush Takeaway food for all dietary needs. Charcoal chicken Pita pockets Protein plates Vegan plates Veggie plates Juicy range of smoothies, juices and shakes! Home deliveries every day from 5 to 9:30pm
10 TO LATE NIGHT, 7 DAYS A WEEK 3/93 JONSON ST, BYRON BAY
6680 8218
turkeys, it has to be the unique location! This place really does have the complete dream holiday vibe goin’ on; yes, you can most certainly have it all my beach-loving foodie friends in Byron Bay. Yes, you most certainly can take that carefree swim in the crystal-clear turquoise ocean, jump out all salty and revived, throw your towel around your waist… in a very bohemian not-a-carein-the-world kinda manner, stroll nonchalantly up the tree-lined path to grab yourself some really beautiful food and refreshing drinks! Yep, all without even having to pack up your beach bag, so you can just as quickly and easily dive straight back into the ocean after your lunch or breakfast has settled, open that book you’ve been promising yourself you’d read, and breathe in your newfound Byron Bay oasis! Yup you guessed it – just another epic day in the Bay! The Pass Café is serving up their awesome take on living in paradise from 7am till 11.30am for breakfast AND 12 till 2.30pm for lunch. These legends also cater for private events and weddings. Terase is the founder of Taste Byron Bay, a local business that showcases local produce across all their menus for catering, events, private dining, food tours and cooking classes. For more information contact: www.tastebyronbay.com or follow the fun on INSTAGRAM @tastebyronbay.
Chocolate Lounge
SER y N VIN OW GG ELA TO y Chai y y Coffee y Hot Chocolate y Milkshakes y Chocolates y Fudge y Light meals
1/53 Stuart Street, Mullumbimby 0406 422 465 y www.puremeltchocolate.com
The Byron Shire Echo August 1, 2018 29