An extension of this is a great range of Australian bush poetry and music especially with
an Irish flavour. The Irish/Australian connection, very prominent in the early days of white settlement means a good excuse for a celebration.
This Festival has been going for about 10 years now and just gets better and better.
Noel Stallard is the man who brings John O'Brien to life and along with a host of other
poets, there was plenty of verse to celebrate at a range of functions including 6 Poets breakfasts!
Other functions included an Irish sing-along, a Bush dance, Irish Luncheons and the first time performance of my show 'Rhythm of the Bush'.
This year I conned an old fiddle playing mate of mine; Roy Duffel to accompany me with my Irish show and Rhythm of the bush show as well.
No empty seats at these shows which is what I love.
Musicians this year at Narrandera included Fellowship of the Strings, Bahntre, Dadscrampy, Celtic Larrikins and Jason & Chloe.
The overall organisation of the festival along with a host of volunteers was superb and this year for the first time saw the introduction of the wristband system. Put this festival
in your diary for 2008.
Corryong Festival 2007
Held in late March every year, the Festival celebrates 'Banjo's' poem The Man from Snowy River in a unique way.
For the horse fraternity there is the Snowy River Challenge; a series of events to determine the person who best epitomises the character of the Man from Snowy River.
The competition includes whip-cracking, brumby catching, stock saddle buckjump, bareback obstacle course, horseshoeing, and camp drafting. A competition designed to
test the very best of the Australia horsemen and women.
A re-enactment of the poem takes place with a real snowy mountain backdrop. Top
horsemen give a large audience a taste of what the ride actually involved. This year the local school kids dressed up in colonial gear, complete with games from 100 years ago,
dancers to old folk music and boxers in a makeshift boxing ring.
An extensive Poetry and bush music programme gave audiences non-stop entertainment
for days; competitions taking up the lion's share of the programme. Jan Lewis, a local lass, does an amazing job at organising this complex programme.
I entertained in several guises but mainly that of impersonating 'Banjo' Paterson, showing audiences a portrayal by utilising the works and life of the Banjo.
It's the only festival where I perform the Man from Snowy River in an intimate setting at the graveside of Jack Riley as well as in the Showground centre ring to several thousand
people at the culmination of the MFSR challenge.
A celebration of a part of Australia that seems to strikes a chord with all Australians.
