Many of the legends from the original rodeo from the 1960s and 70s were on hand in Mount Isa on Saturday to enjoy a great night of bucking bulls and broncs in the new splendid setting of Buchanan Park.

Councillor Anne Seymour organised the first Wookatook Legends rodeo last New Year’s Eve and was not going to be put off when the second event had to be postponed due to rains this New Year’s Eve.

“We were adamant it was only going to be postponed not cancelled,” Cr Seymour said.

And so 10 days later the event was rescheduled and Mount Isa and district residents voted with their feet with a bumper crowd of over 2000 people packing in Buchanan Park much to the delight of organisers.

Mayor Tony McGrady said it was wonderful to see such a great facility be used and the credit belonged firmly to Cr Seymour.

“It was the dream of one person to have a rodeo in Mount Isa on New Year’s Eve and Anne Seymour was the one that made it happen,” Mayor McGrady said.

Cr Seymour said Buchanan Park was not used enough and that was one of the main reasons she decided to push forward the idea.

“That and the idea of giving people something to do on New Year’s Eve,” she said.

Cloncurry cowboy Byron Remfrey was top gun in the saddle broncs while young Burketown cowboy Jeremy Booth was the one rider to tame the ferocious big bulls (which were as much of a headache to the rodeo clowns as the riders).

The rodeo will return to its permanent New Year’s Eve timeslot later this year.

See our photo gallery on page 9 and more on 16.