While North East business owners have experienced the impacts of bushfires and a pandemic, they have also been on the receiving end of goodwill.
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Mount Beauty photographer Charlie Brown is one of them, having sold work to customers who simply wanted to make a timely and thoughtful purchase.
"There were quite a few people at the start of COVID, who weren't from the area and bought artwork off me, saying, 'You guys are doing it tough, we'll support you'," he said.
"Many of them said, 'We're going to buy work off you now, but we'll just pick it up another time'.
"It was fantastic."
Mr Brown now hopes to contribute to Mount Beauty's ongoing recovery through the opening of a pop-up gallery and coffee shop in the carpark of Kiewa Valley Snowsports.
He has hired the container from Blue Dirt Mountain Biking, which is used during the summer.
"When I asked what they were doing with it for the winter, and they said it was stored, I asked if I could lease it," he said.
"People can look at my work while waiting for coffee.
"I've exhibited a few other times in Melbourne, Geelong and Albury with other people, so when it's your own, that's always good.
"It will be a lot more personal because it's my space, and me talking about my art and the stories behind each picture."
Mr Brown did the snow report for broadcaster John Faine's program on the ABC for seven winters and was also Falls Creek Resort's commercial photographer.
"I finished doing work at Falls Creek five years ago, and It wasn't until I moved up here full-time 10 years ago that I started doing landscapes a lot more," he said.
"The views at Mount Hotham looking back towards Buffalo at certain times of the day are just breathtaking, with layers of mountains, and the drive up to Falls Creek is spectacular.
"Mount Beauty is a great place to live and there's a real sense of community.
"The two ski hire shops near me were really busy," he said.
"There were people from Shepparton and groups of families from Bendigo, as well as Albury and Wodonga.
"Everyone was supportive and just happy to be out and about.
IN OTHER NEWS:
"Snow-wise, I think we'll have a good season, and we all hope the season will continue on as far as COVID restrictions go."
The gallery and coffee shop will be opening Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays and each day of the school holidays.
