Mr Smith's son John and his family were locked down in Melbourne, unable to visit Corryong.

"It's a big joy, catching up with them - it's been about six months," he said.

"Thomas was born in May - I just got to see them at the baptism and hadn't seen them since.

"Lock-down was very severe on them, but they managed."

Four generations will be gathered at Mr Smith's home tomorrow, reflecting on an extraordinary year.

Mr Smith's 86-year-old father Howard was born after the Spanish Flu but has recalled the experiences of people living in Old Tallangatta.

"He helped with the move of the town as a young teenager and he had a lot of stories from that, with diseases at the old town ... because of river flats creating problems," he said.

"He can remember those occasions ... other flus and pandemics had only been minor compared to this.

"It's destroyed a lot of people's lives, and we're conscious of it here in the nursing home - I'm a gardener at Corryong Health."

It's been one crisis after the other for Mr Smith and everyone in the Upper Murray.

He responded to last Summer's fires as a member of the Nariel Valley brigade.

"My father was in the CFA for over 40 years, he got me introduced as a teenager and my son is a CFA officer as well," Mr Smith said.

"It was mainly the New Years Day [that I was involved], when it hit Corryong and circulated around to the South.

"The Victorian group brought in relief crews and we were asked to stand down, that's when I helped out some people on their properties as well as the recovery."

Mr Smith recognised that Christmas would be a difficult time for many.

IN OTHER NEWS:

"Some people are still getting through things, and having no real sustainable housing for them is very tough," he said.

"We can all be happy and joyful in little ways, and help these people to keep their minds free and get them back on their feet.

"Hold firm, keep cheerful, keeping looking out for other company and talk to people."