Well, who’d ‘av thunk a Mt Isa Rodeo ticket mistakenly purchased for July instead of August, and I still get to use it? The rodeo is a four day extravaganza, the feature event on the Mt Isa calender every year. The first day is the Indigenous Rodeo, drawing people and families hundreds of, if not more kilometres, from far north Queensland, the Gulf country and south to Birdsville to compete and support.
Wednesday morning and the vans are lined up at the caravan park like Saturday morning shoppers at a Woolies check-out. Grey Nomads from all over Oz converge for this four day event and within two hours, the park was full. That evening, little clusters of old friends re-convened to catch up, and sink a few wines. Comparing agendas and tall tales, it was all over with lights out by 9pm.
My first outing in a month saw me bounding out of the van with backpack on my shoulder, striding with much enthusiasm down to the Showgrounds. Gates opened at 4pm and I wasn’t going to miss a second! Even before opening, there was along line and the carpark looked full. Once in and with the obligatory wrist band, I was free to roam anywhere in the yellow seat area only. With seating police and wrist band inspectors (not to mention the Tactical Response Unit), the days of laid back, alfresco rodeos are long gone. Except for the Compere(s) and a daggy rodeo clown, who managed to keep some semblance of tradition with a bible of hackneyed rally cries and really bad Dad jokes. And yes, it was a captive audience, for many, their only trip to the ‘big smoke’ in a year, and they lapped it up.
The first hour and a bit was taken up with the junior competition, with just as much interest in how the kids came to grief as how long they stayed on. They’re so gutsy for even having a go, and most bounced up quickly and hobbled back behind the gate. Those that went the distance were cheered wildly with sashes and belt buckles awarded to the place getters.
Amongst all the youngins, in the smallest of them all, a true showman was born. After a successful ride he was geein’ up the crowd like a professional and got rapturous applause for his showmanship.
As it was the first day of a four day event, the Opening Ceremony was the chance for everybody who was anybody (or a sponsor) to congratulate themselves or the organisation they worked for. The saving grace for this turgid procession was the focus on Indigenous culture, including dances from local tribes and Torres Strait Islanders. The didge playing was pretty awesome too. The ceremony chewed up an hour and then we were back to the juniors
An Indigenous V Kiwi Challenge had been organized and we got a chance to see the pros in action. Ropin’, wrestlin’, hog tying and the barrel racin’.
By 7pm the place was buzzing. Girls in their spangled cowboy boots and boys in their oversize cowboy hats. Families enjoying a day out and friends partying hard. To keep the crowd entertained they had a sing along with the usual suspects. Neil Diamond could have just recorded Sweet Caroline, retired and lived very well off the royalties.
Just as the contest was getting exciting, the rumble of the live concert outside the arena sparked a mass exodus. The food stalls had been doing a roaring trade but now the crowd was milling around the stage. Arms clutching mobile phones thrust into the night sky. Casey Chambers was in full voice and the crowd were whooping her on.
I had been at the rodeo for six hours now and as much as I wanted to stay, my get-up-and-go was leaving without me. Punters were already lined up for buses and taxis like the evacuation of Dunkirk, but the cool of the evening made a walk home a much more pleasant option.
