HAVING spent his whole life on the road, Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo arena director Steve Hilton has always lived his passion for rodeo.
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Growing up, Mr Hilton was raised on a station down south with his family. As a child he grew up around campdraft and rodeo arenas and started poddy riding and his adrenaline fueled passion grew from there.
When Mr Hilton left school he became a council worker before switching his focus full time to rodeo. He made a living out of rodeo and it took him all over the world.
“I competed overseas in open bull riding, bareback horse riding and also judged finals,” he said.
“Rodeo is good, you might go to these countries and not necessarily know anyone but because you are a cowboy they accept you in there and give you an opportunity.”
Celebrating his 40th consecutive year at Mount Isa Mines Rotary Rodeo, Mr Hilton first came to Mount Isa in 1976 as a competitor. In his time he successfully won bull champion, was three time bareback champion and was All-Round Cowboy twice.
“As a competitor the prize money was my favourite part. Mount Isa became my lucky rodeo, there are some rodeos you do good at year after year and some you don’t,” he said.
“I won a fair bit out of Mount Isa rodeo, being the biggest rodeo in the southern hemisphere it was good for Mount Isa to be my lucky one.”
After competing Mr Hilton upheld the position of Australian Professional Rodeo Association (APRA) general manager for 22 years.
He said APRA sets the benchmark for other rodeo associations.
“Everyone strives to be as good as APRA. Without APRA rodeo would still exist, but the quality would be less and eventually it would die out,” Mr Hilton said.
Over the last 15 years Mr Hilton has upheld the role of arena director at Mount Isa Mines Rotary Rodeo. He is in charge of organising the rodeo program, events and making sure all runs smoothly over the rodeo weekend. He said he had seen plenty of changes over the years.
“The move from Kalkadoon Park to Buchanan Park was a big one and it has now become a completely different event altogether. The quality of local stock is better, the injury rate used to be higher, the program is a lot smoother and the production is much better,” Mr Hilton said.
Now residing in Warwick, Mr Hilton said he looks forward to coming back to Mount Isa each year.
“I have always liked the country up there, you get to see people you haven’t see all year so it is a big social gathering,” he said.
“I keep coming back because I love the sport- this is the biggest and best rodeo and I want to see it continue each year.”
Samantha Campbell
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
