The move has paid off, with the former shearer’s rural sense of humour making him a hit on Australia’s Got Talent in 2011.

Since then, the funnyman they call ‘The Old Fella’ has done about 650 Sold Out Shows around Australia, and is back by popular demand at The Comfort Inn Goldfields Stawell on Saturday after making his Ararat debut at the Ararat RSL Club on Friday.

Back by popular demand at The Comfort Inn Goldfields after his March show sold out in less than four days The Old Fella believes it will be his final farewell in Stawell.

“It was amazing last time in Stawell and it was going to be my last show but after it sold out the demand was there for another gig so I thought why not come back, it's a beautiful town and the hosts are amazing,” he said.  

"I will be making my debut in Ararat and I'm really looking forward to that. I have worked a lot of regional Victoria over the last 18 months and have driven through Ararat so many times and I kept saying to myself I must do a show at the RSL Club there.

“It looks a great venue so I can't wait to get up and tell some jokes, but it will be my last gig in these two towns I’ve spent a lot of time on the road over the last four years and I’m not seeing as much of my grandchildren as I’d like to.

“So I’m on a farewell tour. It’ll take me 12 months to do it by the time it takes me to get around Australia.”

It even included 21 shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and while the prospect of becoming a hit on the international comedy circuit is tantalising, his heart lies in rural Australia.

“I like doing small country towns – the smaller the better,” he said.

“I did a show at the Heywood Hotel, in a little dining room that could fit 100 people and it sold out in just six hours so I had to do another show.

“A lot of artists don’t go out to these places.”

Mr Gregory worked on a sheep and crop farm for more than half a century in South Australia’s York Peninsula and it’s no surprise his sense of humour appeals to country folk. 

“I understand what (farmers) are going through,” he said.

“I don’t think there’s a farmer out there who doesn’t wake up in the morning without a knot in their guts, worried about whether it’s rained too much or not enough or fire or prices.

“It has its rewards, but it has its risks, as does anything that deals with nature.”

While Mr Gregory loves being able to bring some laughter to the lives of those doing it hard on the land, he gets just as much joy from meeting and talking to the people who come to his shows.

“I met a bloke in Queensland who was an ex-shearer who said he now farms mice – he was bragging about being a mouse farmer.

“He said he sells 3000 mice a week around Australia to snake owners and pet shops.

“That’s what I love about Australians – they’ll have a go at anything!”

Tickets for The Old Fella are still for sale and you can book at The Comfort Inn Goldfields by phoning 5358 2911 or the Ararat RSL Club on 5532 2794.