Since the "Ring of Steel" came into effect in mid-September, Ms Tregoning was one of many regional Victorians separated from family and friends in Melbourne by checkpoints and police checks.

With the barrier's dissolution on Monday, Ms Tregoning wasted no time in reuniting with her extended family. Her mother Gwen Tregoning rushed down to Ararat to see Sarah and her two-year-old grandson, Murray.

Ms Tergnoning said the catch up was likely "better than Christmas", as her mother could see firsthand the growth of her young son.

"We've been doing the Zoom and Skype stuff, but it just doesn't do it justice when you have a young child," she said.

"They can't come near him or interact, and he gets fed up with a phone pretty quickly.

"So to finally meet up is really exciting."

Ms Tergnoning, who moved to Ararat five years ago, said it had been difficult to not see her family for so long.

"Part of the whole idea of moving to Ararat was that it is not that far from Melbourne and my family," she said.

"Unfortunately, this has not been a very easy year to predict - 200 kilometres has never felt so far away.

"I think we may have last seen them for a brief time in July. It's kind of almost hard to remember, it feels so long ago.

"But it's super exciting that they can come up and see us now."

Ms Tregnoning said despite the time between meetings, her son and her mother's relationship had not missed a beat.

"It was incredible to see my mother again face to face after so many months," she said.

"Murray was over the moon. He didn't let her out of his sight the entire visit.

"I am absolutely amazed that this time of separation has not at all affected their bond."

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Former Wimmera resident Brett Bethune had also been eagerly awaiting the removal of the barrier.

Most of Mr Bethune's family remains in Horsham, and he said his first trip back to the region would be to for his grandmother, Yvonne's, 90^th birthday on Saturday.

"I haven't seen her since June or something like that," he said.

"I've got my sister, Dad, two grandparents, aunties and uncles that live there as well.

"It's going to be bloody good to see them all again."

Mr Bethune said he had been missing his family while locked away in the Melbourne suburb of Rowville.

"We've been missing them heaps. We haven't been able to see anyone actually, so it should be good," he said.

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