Honor Auchinleck, Corryong Courier
The opening of the MFSR Bush Festival’s Art and Photography Exhibition last Thursday evening was memorable for the opening speech of Dr Jonathan King OAM.
Dr King organised the first modern bush festival in 1995, commemorating Angus and Robertson’s publication in 1895 of Banjo Paterson’s anthology The Man from Snowy River and Other Verses.
There would be few better than Dr King with his reminiscences and film footage for portraying the history and development of the festival over the past 29 years.
He thrilled his audience and set the tone for the evening which was capably emceed by Lizzie Star.
While the Art and Photography Exhibition entries were slightly lower this year, talented local artists and photographers set a high standard and impressed the exhibition patrons.
Local photographer Rod Macdonald was awarded the photography section’s first prize with his picture ‘High Country Hut’.
Local artist Gayle Lee was awarded first prize in ‘Painting: Oil and Acrylic’ category with ‘Call of the High Country is Quietly Here, Just Stop and be Still’.
Second prize went to Marianne Scarvelis with ‘Where Eagles Soar’.
Margaret McCall came third with ‘Herefords of the High Country’.
The section ‘Works on Paper’ was won by Abby Smith with ‘Moving Forward’ with second prize going to Suzanne Brookes with ‘Perched on the Track and third prize being awarded to Evette Pepper with ‘Reflections, the Fenced Fish Pond’.
Jack Quigley with ‘Stuck’ won the ‘Other Media’ category.
The 2024 ‘Artist of the Year’ prize was awarded to Gayle Lee.
A young visitor to the exhibition was so inspired by the event that he went home and began organising his own exhibition! There could be no greater accolade to the entrants! The aim of the exhibition is to bring pleasure and inspiration to its visitors, young and older alike! The Elyne Mitchell Photo Story Awards were also announced at the exhibition.
The bush festival’s theme ‘The Call of the High Country’ captured the imaginations of all who entered these awards and the shortlisted entries delighted and inspired the visitors.
The participation and enthusiastic response from Corryong College brought the festival’s Art and Photography committee and members of our local community the greatest of pleasure.
Congratulations go to winners Takiyah Brammaii with ‘The Call of the High Country River’ (Primary Junior Section) and Jesse Pitman with ‘The Road to the Sunset’ (Senior Junior Section).
For teachers and students unable to visit the Art and Photography Exhibition the winning and shortlisted entries will be exhibited in the Corryong College Library.
Our thanks go to teachers Emma Paton and Sarah Harris for their work in encouraging and inspiring their students.
Returning entrant Maree Myhill from Young won the Open Award with a magnificent landscape photograph and supporting text with her photo story ‘Early Morning’.
The winning entry and the shortlist will be displayed in the Corryong Cafè Brew.
In her book Towong Hill: 50 Years on an Upper Murray Cattle Station Elyne Mitchell wrote ‘This is the country that built my heart’.
Her remark reflected her profound love for the Upper Murray and the High Country beyond.
I think she would have been truly delighted if she was still with us and able to see all the entries and the creative responses they reflect to ‘The Call of the High Country’.
Special thanks go to the Bush Festival’s Art and Photography Committee.
The theme for the 2025 Man from Snowy River Bush Festival is ‘The Man or the Myth’.
This article appeared in the Corryong Courier, 18 April 2024.
