Approximately 250 people gathered on Friday evening for the Corryong Spirit event at the Upper Murray Events Centre to support one another and those who have suffered loss and hardships since the 2019-20 bushfires.

“Community is something Corryong does really well,” said Caz Pitman, secretary of the Corryong Spirit.

“The event centre came into its own,” she said, “after a last-minute decision by the committee to move the Spirit from it’s usual ‘stomping ground’ at Attree Park, due to wet weather.

“It worked so well, it turned out to be the perfect setting to run this event,”

It was so successful that the committee is seriously considering booking the event centre again next year.

“It has that indoor/outdoor kind of feel,” Caz said.

“People were warm and dry inside but had the option to huddle and chat by the fire pits outside. They could grab something to eat from the Sacred Heart School parent’s committee or a hot chocolate or coffee from Nadia’s Cozza Coffee van.

“It was perfect!”

The haunting sound of bagpipes echoed as a Scottish piper opened this year’s event.

“It certainly got everyone’s attention and we are incredibly grateful to Angus Beath who travelled all the way from Wodonga to be here to play for us,” Caz said.

The event was emceed by local media personality, John Walker and began with a prayer from local Baptist pastor Graeme van Brummelen.

The Corryong Spirit was packed with speakers, music, food and community.

The area was magically decorated by Kurt Saggers and the CNC youth crew, who Kurt has mentored and who now have their own supply of bunting that the community can hire.

“It is great to see these skills being passed on,” Caz said.

“Kurt has a real heart for this kind of stuff and for building capacity and passing his skills onto others.”

People were entertained by the soothing sounds of local music group Mountain Alliance and the harmonies of the Song Sisters, supported by Tony and his team at Professional Audio Services.

“It was lovely to have our local talent up there this year,” Caz said.

“It is good to support and grow our local talent as much as we can.”

People came from far and wide on a cold, wet night to listen to speakers Rev Tim Costello and ex-AFL footballer, Justin Koschitzke, two noticeably different speakers from their respective and very different walks of life.

They both had a story to tell and encouraging words to share – words of struggle, passion and resilience, words to build up and to support one another.

Tim Costello, one of Australia’s most respected community leaders and a sought-after voice on social justice issues, leadership and ethics was visibly moved by what we have experienced here in the Upper Murray, as he talked about the importance of ‘community’.

Justin, a farm boy from Brocklesby, shared his personal story of struggle in an interview with Warren Davies, aka The Unbreakable Farmer, as he navigated the extreme highs and lows of his AFL career with St Kilda Football Club.

“You could hear a pin drop,” Caz said.

“People were captured by Justin’s openness, honesty and vulnerability.”

These are similar qualities that Caz and her husband Jon Pitman had shared in an article by Jodie O’Sullivan in the Border Mail last Friday, about losing their son Joe to suicide in May 2021.

“The article was done in the hope that it would help somebody else to not go through what we have been through in the last three and a bit years”, Caz said.

Justin Koschitzke was deeply touched by what our community has been through. As a mental health advocate he has spoken at several events.

“But this one was different,” he shared.

“This one, I could feel the pain in the room.”

“Justin left us all feeling encouraged and reminded us of the importance to speak up and seek help when we are struggling and to get around each other and support one another,” Caz said.

“We don’t have to do this journey alone!”

In his addrress, Tim Costello, said “We are designed for community.

“We are not meant to be alone.”

Caz added that “This is what the Corryong Spirit is about, bringing people together, creating community, getting around the fire, having a chat, sharing each other’s burdens and healing together.

“It was great to see so many people connecting, faces old and new, people chatting with friends and meeting each other for the first time.”

At one point Caz said she noticed three farmers standing huddled together, laughing and sharing stories.

“For me, this was the highlight of the night and it made all the months of hard work and effort worthwhile,” she said.

“Their wives were very happy to let their men talk for as long as they liked as they don’t get off the farm much.

“On behalf of the Corryong Spirit committee, I would like to thank everyone who supported this event.”

Club Corner:- The jackpot at The Club Corryong this Friday is $3500. Last week’s winner was Frank Bullivant ($10).
Email items of local interest for this column to editorial@corryongcourier.com.au.

This article appeared in the Corryong Courier, 22 August 2024.