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Back Roads: Nov 27

Back Roads returns to ABC and Heather Ewart is in Corryong, in north-eastern Victoria.

Back Roads returns to ABC on Monday an Heather Ewart is in Corryong, in north-eastern Victoria.

Presenter Heather Ewart arrives in Corryong with Fanny Lumsden, a talented local singer song-writer who won best new talent at this year’s Tamworth Country Music Festival. Fanny and her musician husband, Dan Stanley Freeman, may be on the road for many months of the year but they feel blessed to call Corryong home. Like many young people growing up in the country who headed off to the bright city lights, Fanny has been lured back to Corryong, a place that for many years has seemed frozen in time.

Heather has arrived as preparations are in full swing for the town’s biggest celebration of the year, The Man from Snowy River Festival. Each year the festival attracts thousands of visitors to town, who yearn to learn more about the old bush ways.

Heather meets Joan Sinclair, one of the region’s best horse and cattlewomen. Joan is 83 years old and still riding, because in her opinion it beats walking. Joan was just six weeks old when she arrived at her property outside Corryong, and she’s lived there ever since. She’s had two husbands, both now deceased, and believes horses are a lot less trouble than men.

Heather also meets two true-blue bush characters, ‘Snags’ McKimmie and Doug Sheather. These old friends have spent their lives in the high country, mustering cattle and catching brumbies. 86-year-old Doug makes traditional leather whips at his bush shack, which is basic to say the least, with a view to die for.

Corryong has its share of struggles and full-time jobs are scarce. But the town has realised that its future lies not only in preserving the past. They are coming up with creative new ways of creating opportunities for their young people who chose to stay.

8pm Monday on ABC.

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