THE FIRST meeting for Tweed Experiences Network took place on Monday, February 12, with more than 25 members gathering at the stunning Freeman’s Organic Farm overlooking the Currumbin Valley.
The evening meeting started with a guided tour of the Freeman’s Farm, which is operated by Lieutenant Colonel David Harold Gower Freeman (ret’d), who is a fourth generation farmer and works the farm alongside his parents Bill and Lesley.
Described by some as an “eccentric farmer”, David’s passion for quality organic farming is evident the moment you meet him and if you’re lucky he might even eat some of the farm’s increible soil to demonstrate its quality.
David undertakes group tours around his family’s property, demonstrating its heritage and his passion for quality solis, organic fruit and vegetables, as well as blazing a trail for sustainable and organic farming practices.
Hugely popular with Tweed residents, David offers his organic fruit and vegetables via a roadside retail outlet which has ample parking and offers possibly one of the best views while shopping in Australia at the aptly named ‘Arthur Freeman Lookout’.
“The family farm has been operating since 1915, when Arthur Freeman pioneered the introduction of the banana industry in Australia and started growing bananas in the Currumbin Valley, after leaving his banana plantations in Fiji,” David told the Tweed Experiences Network (TEN) group.
“The farm was established in 1915, and in the 1920s became the largest commercial banana farm in Australia, with more than 100 acres of bananas (100,000 banana trees) and 40 full-time employees.
“This same family farm from 1915 is now the only continuous commercial fruit and vegetable farm in Currumbin Valley that remains today.”
David said the farm, which continues to grow organic variety bananas today, has also since introduced a range of other fruits and vegetables which are grown using the highest organic practices.
“We have 3,000 square metres of veges and a total of 20 acres cultivated,” he said.
“We also condition our own soil to mimic the same soil as found in the rainforest.”
The results of David’s hard work are immediate in the flavour of his bananas, avocados and strawberries, which burst with flavour and excite the senses.
“Thanks to the fertile volcanic basalt soils and the warm north-easterly aspect of the property, the quality, flavour, texture and nutrient density of the fruit grown here is second to none,” he said.
Following the tour, TEN members were invited to enjoy food and drinks and hear from several tourism speakers who started the meeting’s former proceedings.
Among the speakers was Burragun Aboriginal Cultural Services facilitator and educator Paul Craft “Uncle Barragun”, who will be performing an Aboriginal dance as part of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
Uncle Burragun thanked David for his passionate use of the land and connection with his farm.
He also highlighted his work as a cultural educator and spoke about his fulfilling role in teaching others the wonders of Indigenous culture.
“Our people have faced challenges in the past and challenges today, but we are ready to share and want to connect,” he said.
“I think we can all gain something from Aboriginal teachings and together we can move towards a strong future.”
Tweed tourism hits record highs
THE TWEED Shire recorded its highest ever number of domestic visitors during the 2016/2017 financial year with international visitors also on the rise.
Almost two million domestic visitors comprising of a record 1.3 million day trippers (12 per cent increase) and a record 663,000 overnight visitors (15 per cent increase) visited the Tweed during 2016/17.Tweed Experiences Network visit Freeman’s Organic Farm
Domestic visitors stayed on average 3.8 nights, comprising 2.5 million visitor nights and contributing $267 million to the Tweed’s economy.
The number of international visitors staying overnight on the Tweed increased by a staggering 50 per cent to 26,600. International visitors are staying an average of 10 nights on the Tweed and contributing $15 million to the economy.
In contrast, Gold Coast tourism figures show in the twelve months to June 2017 both domestic and international visitor numbers grew by seven per cent to just under four million domestic visitors and one million international visitors.
Gold Coast overnight visitors contribute over $4 billion to the economy whilst Tweed overnight visitors are contributing $282 million.
