Tuesday, 16 May 2023

 Bill TILLEY (Benambra) (13:20): Last month I had the good fortune and privilege to be up at the Man from Snowy River Bush Festival in the heart of the Upper Murray in Corryong. It is the largest event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, with about 25,000 people through the gates, where we have 300 volunteers and three full-time and five part-time staff, which in total brings about $7 million into the local economy. It is a celebration of High Country heritage, with 26 events from bush poetry to bands, art shows, the challenge, which demonstrates the best horsemanship in the country, the re-enactment of Banjo’s The Man from Snowy River poem, and Riley’s Ride, where 50 riders plus crew follow in the hoofprints of Jack Riley’s – aka ‘the Man’ – final and fateful ride from Tom Groggin to Corryong. Akubras off to Travis Bandy, the 21-year-old who won the Man from Snowy River Bush Festival challenge for the first time, and he is no stranger to the event: his father Scott has etched his name onto the honour board five times previously.

It was another massive effort by all the volunteers and the community in the wider Corryong district – I thank each and every one of you. A big thankyou also to the iconic Australian brand RM Williams, which was the naming rights sponsor – the event would not have happened without them – and to the chairman of the board, Cameron Jackson, for his leadership.