Rodeo legends Fred Osman and Darren "Brandy" Brandenburg" visiting Doomadgee, Normanton, Napranum, Weipa, Yarraba and Hopevale
calling on indigenous cowboys and cowgirls to enter for the first Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships
Legends lead inaugural Rodeo Roadshow to recruit indigenous riders
After announcing a new championship rodeo event created in partnership with Mona Aboriginal Corporation – the Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships – a team from Isa Rodeo Limited and Mona Aboriginal Corporation are this week traveling to Doomadgee, Normanton, Napranum, Weipa, Yarraba and Hopevale to spread the word, and recruit competitors, led by rodeo legends Fred Osman and Darren "Brandy" Brandenburg.
The Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships will take place on Thursday August 11, the day before the largest rodeo in the Southern Hemisphere begins – the legendary Mount Isa Mines Rodeo.
To ensure the word is spread throughout outback communities, enabling indigenous riders to enter this inaugural event, a group from the organising team led by two-time Australian and three-time and current Isa Rodeo Bareback Champion Fred Osman AND Darren "Brandy" Brandenburg, a former Australian Bull Riding Champion, All Round Champion cowboy and rodeo legend, are visiting Doomadgee, Normanton, Weipa, Bamaga and Hopevale.
Joining Fred and Brandy is Patrick Cooke, CEO of the Mona Aboriginal Corporation and organisers of the event. They will meet with Traditional Owners and community leaders, give FREE RODEO CLINICS in each town, meet with local Mayors and councillors and community representatives to discuss the opportunities that this event has to offer as well as host a community BBQ.
"Some of Australia's most legendary bull-riders and bronco-busters are Indigenous and we know there's a huge amount of talent across Australia. For this first year we aim to visiting northern and outback Queensland including Doomadgee, Normanton, Weipa, Bamaga and Hopevale" said Mona Aboriginal Corporation's Patrick Cooke. "The wonderful thing about rodeo in Australia is how it brings communities together from all across the Gulf, the Cape and Outback Queensland.''
"This inaugural rodeo roadshow will talk to communities and show the pathways and opportunities that rodeo can provide for young riders."
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister Craig Crawford applauded Mona Aboriginal Corporation for championing an event that would benefit some of Queensland's most remote communities.
"I have no doubt that Australia's next rodeo champion will be found here in north Queensland," Mr Crawford said. "Aboriginal ringers are renowned for their riding, stock work and horse-breaking skills and have played a big role in the outback cattle industry from the earliest days," he said. "The Indigenous Rodeo Roadshow gives the region's cowboys and cowgirls an opportunity to showcase their skills and participate in the world-class Mt Isa Rodeo, the southern hemisphere's largest. Importantly, it also offers at-risk youth pathways for skill development and potential job opportunities and encourages them to live healthy, active lives."
Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the Indigenous Rodeo Championships would help the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo saddle up for future growth.
"Queensland's Indigenous rodeo talent is often recognised as Australia's best and with good reason," Mr Hinchliffe said. "Mount Isa's outback rodeo roadshow is a cracking way of unearthing, recruiting and nurturing new riding talent."
"The Indigenous Rodeo Championships is another reason to visit Mount Isa this August for the southern hemisphere's biggest rodeo experience. Now's the time grab your Akubra, dust off your boots and book an outback rodeo getaway to Queensland's great North West."
Events in the first Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships include - Bull ride, Saddle Bronc, Bareback Bronc Team Roping, Rope and Tie, Steer Wrestling, Barrel Race, Breakaway Roping, Junior Steer and Poddy Ride. There will be one round in each event and prize money will pay to the top four places. Entries will be open from Monday 11th July 2022 – Wednesday 20th July 2022 only.
Not only will the Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships deliver a new line-up of riders to watch, the dedicated rock concert staged that evening will star Baker Boy, the ferociously talented, multi-award winning rapper who was raised in Arnhem Land and is now based on Wadawurrung Country. Baker Boy was the 2019 Young Australian of the Year, won Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year at the 2020 NIMA Awards and was nominated for three ARIAS in 2020. His appearance at the event is set to draw thousands. Performing alongside Baker Boy will be the Sundowners Kalkutungu Dancers from Mount Isa and the Desert Dust Dance Group from Barcaldine; local DJ Deadly Jacob will open for Baker Boy.
Maryann Wipaki, General Manager HSEC, Glencore Zinc Assets Australia said as a founding partner of the iconic Mount Isa Mines Rodeo, Mount Isa Mines was proud to sponsor the inaugural Indigenous Rodeo.
"Glencore supports initiatives that promote Indigenous participation and the importance of diversity and inclusion. Our continued sponsorship for rodeo and many other community events, helps to inject confidence in Mount Isa, and create a sustainable community, by generating more than $10 million into the local economy," she said.
The addition of the Mount Isa Indigenous Rodeo Championships into Rodeo Week will create four-days of non-stop rodeo action, family entertainment, behind the scenes tours, rock concerts, cultural celebrations, food experiences including low and slow classes by famed bit bosses The Shank Brothers, and outback trader markets.
This year some 750 world class competitors will compete for Australia's largest rodeo prize pool of over $270,000.
Tickets are ON SALE NOW at Isarodeo.com.au
ABOUT MOUNT ISA MINES RODEO
In 1959, a group of people with passion and an intrinsic sense of potential formed the Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo Inc (MIRRI). Their vision was to put the new, remote town of Mount Isa on the map and raise funds for charity organisations in the new city. Through 63 years of whip-cracking vision and dedication, the event has evolved into legendary status. The event is part of the Australian Professional Rodeo Association's (APRA's) national circuit. The event is supported by the Queensland Government, via Tourism and Events Queensland and is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. The rodeo schedule includes the Bull Ride (Open, Over 40s, 2nd & Junior Division), Saddle Bronc (Open & 2nd Division), Bareback (Open & 2nd Division), Rope & Tie (Open), Steer Wrestling, Team Roping, Ladies Barrel Race, Ladies Breakaway Roping and Mini Bull Rides.
Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships: Thursday August 11, 2022
In partnership with Mona Aboriginal Corporation
Buchanan Park Events Complex, George and Sutton Street, Mt Isa
Website: Isarodeo.com.au
The Queensland Government is the Principal Partner of the Indigenous Rodeo Championships and Roadshow
Mount Isa Mines Rodeo: August 11 to 14, 2022
The Mount Isa Mines Rodeo is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere
Thursday 11th August to Sunday 14th August 2022
Website: Isarodeo.com.au
This event is supported by the Queensland Government, via Tourism and Events Queensland
