And even then they had printed extra tickets so more people could attend, according to organiser Liza Dowler. 

They expected a maximum of 100 people to attend the breakfast at Terrace Gardens on Thursday morning. Instead they had 114.

They could not fit in more because it was becoming “too squashy”. 

Ms Dowler said the high numbers could be attributed to a larger than average number of tourists travelling through Mount Isa this season. 

“Talking to a lot of business owners they are seeing a lot of tourists around,” she said. 

The change of location and set-up at Terrace Gardens may also have attracted a larger number. 

Master of Ceremonies was Keith Douglas, who true to form had the crowd laughing during and between his poetry.

He even had the Rodeo Queen representatives believing that he owned the raffle ticket that he had drawn. 

“He’s quite a character, isn’t he,” an attendee muttered. 

Rodeo Queen Chelsea Beckmann recited a poem about her queen quest journey in the previous 10 months.

Sitting at her table was Mount Isa Mayor Joyce McCulloch, who was going to read a poem. 

However, last week she heard Good Shepherd Catholic College student Isabella Bakhash do a reading last week at a speakers competition. 

The mayor decided that Isabella should have the opportunity to do a reading at the bush poets breakfast, and offered her spot. 

Speaking could be one of the hardest things to do, Ms McCulloch said.

“It’s because you have to be comfortable with what you’re saying and who your crowd is. 

Mr Douglas said “death by fire” was more ideal than public speaking for some people. 

One of the first poems recited was by Cassandra Bird. She shared two.

One of them was previously read by her daughter at another bush poets breakfast. 

The other was about trying to balance parenthood with romance.