Corryong businesses begin enormous recovery after bushfires
The Man from Snowy River Bush Festival is expected to reinvigorate Corryong as businesses reopen and focus on the future.
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Leave city life behind and gallop on down to Corryong – the town chomping at the bit for visitors to return.
After battling bushfires in January, the small town is getting back on its feet for the annual Man from Snowy River Bush Festival, which runs from April 2 to 5. Now in its 25th year, locals are hoping this year’s celebration will be bigger and better than ever, with all proceeds to be donated to bushfire recovery.
With horse events, live music and street markets, there’s something on offer for everyone at the festival.
Peter Cochran, who is on the festival board, said Corryong was stronger than ever, with locals banding together to organise this year’s festival.
“An upside (to the fires) is it brings the community together — families and neighbours that are fragmented from old disputes and break ups, this bonds them together and they forget all the s---,” Mr Cochran said.
“They realise that they can work together a lot better if they don’t fight.”
One casualty of the blazes was Mount Mittamatite Caravan Park, located on the outskirts of Corryong, which was almost completely gutted by the fires.
But manager Leslie Parker revealed they’re not giving up and want to be back in business by the time the festival rolls around in April.
“We’ve lost a lot. This should have been our busiest season and it’s all gone up in flames, literally,” Ms Parker said.
“We’re going to miss all the big events but the Man from Snowy River is on in April and it’s our last big money maker.
“We’re hoping to have power back and a toilet block of some kind so people can come and stay.
“It’s devastating but we’ll rebuild. This time next year it will all be a distant memory.”
She added: “This community is incredible. I’ve been here for 15 years and in that time I’ve seen some amazing things — everyone just supports one another.”
A busy Australia Day weekend already gave the town with a much-needed boost and Louisa McFarland, who runs local cafe Maccas, said the town was ready and waiting for visitors to return.
“It was so encouraging and overwhelming that so many people came. A lot of people just thought, let’s go for a drive,” she said.
“It would mean a whole heap (if people came to support us), but then there are so many places in Australia that are in the same boat. There are a lot of bushfire-affected communities to choose from.
“If all of our regular Easter customers came back it would be amazing.”
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Kerri Miller, who runs Alpine Edge Accommodation with husband Ross, encouraged people to visit the town as they got back to business.
“It’s already starting to green up in places. It’s a beautiful part of the world — we love it here. It would be amazing for more people to see it,” she said.