Man From Snowy River Bush Festival return testament to the resilience and determination of Upper Murray

After a brutal 18 months, beginning with the end of a prolonged dry spell, followed by some of the worst bushfires in the region's history and then the twin blows of COVID-19 restrictions and border closures, the high country is jumping again.

A busy Easter period with hundreds of campers flocking to their favourite riverside spots has flowed into the return of the four-day Man From Snowy River Bush Festival.

Small businesses in Corryong decimated by lockdowns are buzzing again with visitors, who in many instances are regular festival attendees and sorely missed the event last year.

Getting the event up and running in a COVID safe fashion speaks volumes to the dedication, determination and resilience of the Upper Murray community.

Crowd numbers have been capped at 5000 people at the festival epicentre, the Corryong Recreation Reserve, where all the main action will be over the weekend culminating with the male and female challenge events.

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Thankfully face masks won't be mandatory, but they need to be carried in the event spectators don't feel they can adequately socially distance.

COVID marshalls will be out and about over the length of the festival as will an army of volunteers needed to successfully stage the event.

The festival was established in its current format in 1995 and the previous time it wasn't held was 2007 due to equine influenza.

The only major feature of the festival not held this year due to COVID regulations was the Friday street parade.

Riley's Ride from Tom Groggin Station concluded on the outskirts of Corryong yesterday after also not going ahead in 2020.

This year's festival will also mark the first major use of the Upper Murray Events Centre which was under construction when the fires came to the region in late 2019.

There has been no official opening yet, but the most important thing to celebrate is the return of a truly iconic event.

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