APRA’s outgoing general manager Steve Hilton will oversee the school, which will be held on August 5 and 6 – before the three-day Mount Isa Rodeo gets under way on August 8. 

Mount Isa Mines Rotary Rodeo manager Natalie Flecker said the MIRRI board was firmly behind the initiative, with the aim of helping local cowboys and cowgirls keen to learn rodeo skills. 

“Mount Isa is Australia’s rodeo capital and we really believe this school absolutely needs to happen to encourage the professional development of skills by young people who might not have previously had the opportunity,” Ms Flecker said.

And if organising the largest rodeo in the southern hemisphere wasn’t a big enough challenge, Ms Flecker is seeking sponsorship for the inaugural Isa Rodeo School.

 “While the instructors and organisers are giving their time, we are seeking sponsorship to offset costs such as arena hire, stock, feed for stock, accommodation for instructors, catering and promotion,” Ms Flecker said. 

The Isa Rodeo School will offer a bronc and bull riding course plus a bull fighter (protection clown) course. Numbers will be limited to 15 students each in the bronc and bull courses and open to five protection clowns. 

Mr Hilton said the school would help foster rodeo skills in a professional, controlled environment. 

“A lot of young people are wanting to know how to get into rodeo,” Mr Hilton said.

 “The only way they should do it is going through schools like these and there are not a lot of them.’’ 

The bull fighter (protection clown) course will be taught by Darryl Chong, three-time winner of APRA  Australian Bullfighter of the Year.