Comedy tour a slice of life

WHILE he’s now about to tour the country, one Melbourne-based comedian has already been on one hell of a journey.

Turns out Jarryd Goundry “accidentally” joined the military while waiting for his mum to go out for lunch in Perth as a teenager, and later became a fine-dining chef.

“They make it look great,” he said. “I signed up, I had lunch with my mum, and said ‘mum, I’m joining the army’, and she was like ‘what the f&#k, we were going out for focaccia’,” said Goundry.

Now heading out on the road, his tour Farewell Vanilla Slice is partly an effort to raise awareness and support for veterans, but also a chance to try as many versions as possible of the classic Australian treat.

A portion of the profits from the tour are going to the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum, said Goundry, who was told by his doctor recently that he needed to stop eating dairy.

“It’s been a really nice way to connect with a community that’s given me so much,” he said. “All of the rockstars do farewell tours right, John Farnham, the Rolling Stones.

“This is the best chance I’m ever going to have to eat every good vanilla slice in Australia, and if I can go out on a high or a low, then that’s what we’re going to do, that’s my side quest.”

Goundry said he did his first comedy gig while in the army when he successfully imitated a platoon officer in front of 50 people.

“I thought it was always funny what was going on when in the military. I said ‘this is ridiculous, we’ve been up for two days, you’ve got mud on your face’,” Goundry said.

The internet can be a wonderful thing, and Goundry has amassed over 1.6 million likes on his TikTok. He said the platform has allowed people to find out about him and his cause.

“The internet’s so powerful right, I mean for 17 million people to watch a video of someone 30 years ago meant you had to be on the TV, but you can do that all yourself now with your phone,” he said.

“The greatest thing that’s ever happened from that is people will message me and they’re like hey my dad served, and I showed him these and he thinks it’s hilarious.”

Farewell Vanilla Slice will be at The Cambrian Hotel on Thursday 31 August at 7.30pm.