CURRY Merry Muster president Jeremy Grimm said the sight of 7000 people walking through the gates for this weekend’s rodeo and novelty events would be a dream come true.
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This year will be the first time the rodeo will be held at the newly-constructed Cloncurry Equestrian Centre - but there’s no doubt about its capacity to put on a good weekend.
Mr Grimm said the Cloncurry residents, and the rodeo circuit, were all buzzing after the Stockman’s Challenge took the new arena for a test run in early July.
‘‘At the moment we have record nominations so obviously people are liking it,” he said.
“The camping facilities are top of the range for an event out of town.
“Every site has water, power and sewerage and there’s plenty of room there, council has done a top job there.”
Mr Grimm, who has overseen the Curry Merry Muster for the last four years, said Quamby’s healthy attendance last week could be a good sign for his rodeo.
“I’d love for 7000 to come through the gate but that’s one thing that is still an unknown,” he said.
“We usually go off Quamby and they’ve had good numbers this year.”
Merry Muster fever takes hold of the Curry tonight when visitors and locals line the streets to watch the hand-made floats trundle down Scarr Street.
Mr Grimm said community groups would be out raising funds for their local projects during the parade.
Another great event running alongside the rodeo action is this year’s Poetry Slam workshop and Bush Poet’s Breakfast on Sunday morning.
The Cloncurry Poetry Slam entrant with the sharpest wit will take home $12,000 and head to the state championships in Brisbane.
Another $500 is up for grabs for the best truckie as well in the Martyr Transport Trucker Challenge.
Competitors will start the challenge in the cab of a truck before completing obstacles along the way.
Cloncurry young gun Kolt Ferguson targets hometown win, Page 22.