The 2015 rodeo won the gold award in the festivals and events category, which recognised those events attracting fewer than 50,000 visitors. 

It is a week after the event won the gold at the Outback Queensland Tourism Awards in Windorah. 

The category’s silver at the Queensland Tourism Awards in Brisbane was won by the Broadbeach Country Music Festival while the bronze was received by the Noosa Food & Wine Festival. 

This category considered whether the event increased the profile and appeal of the destination where it was held, and created a significant economic impact for the destination. 

The rodeo’s committee president Darren Campi and manager Natalie Flecker collected the award at the black tie function in the Brisbane Convention Centre last Friday night. 

“It’s very prestigious to win of course. It enhances our profile,” Mr Campi said on Monday.

He said the acknowledgement for the major event meant that it would be a nominee in the national awards to be held in Darwin next February.  

The event’s committee president said he believed the event was highly regarded by judges because of how professional it ran, and the number of visitors attracted intrastate and from over state borders.

“We are kicking some goals, that’s for sure, if we can benchmark against high end events.” 

The 2015 rodeo improved numbers from previous years although there had been constant growth. 

Mr Campi noted that outback events made a strong presence at the awards. Mount Isa representatives “smuggled in” the rodeo’s cowbells and rang them every time the world ‘Outback’ was mentioned. 

“They (city representatives) knew we were there. 

“Outback Queensland won 60 per cent of the awards. That’s a big thing.”