The Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo has been recognised on the national stage after taking out a major Australian tourism award on Friday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Australia Tourism Association tweeted the news late on Friday night saying “Giddyup, It’s gold for IsaRodeo”.
It was third time lucky after reaching the final but failing to take out the award in 2007 and 2012.
The Rodeo took out the Festival and Events category ahead of some very stiff competition from across the country ahead of Canberra’s National Folk Festival with the Parkes Elvis Festival in third place.
Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo Inc chairman Darren Campi, Rodeo Manager Natalie Flecker and committee members Kim Kretschmann, Paul Silva and Peter Gogsch accepted the award at the prestigious awards ceremony held at the Darwin Convention Centre.
Rodeo Manager Natalie Flecker said it was a fantastic coup for the event and city to win the national award.
"I would like to pay tribute and thank all our loyal sponsors, including naming rights sponsor Mount Isa Mines, Tourism and Events Queensland, the MIRRI Board, Rotary, Mount Isa City Council and our hundreds of volunteers for their support in helping us stage the biggest and best rodeo in the southern hemisphere," she said.
"This award is recognition of not only the rodeo's success on the national stage but also the support, dedication and commitment of everyone who works so hard to put this event on."
Ms Flecker also thanked the Queensland Government and Tourism Queensland for recently granting the Isa Rodeo major event status.
"We are looking forward to staging another fantastic rodeo in August, and to ensure our event is the one on people's bucket list, so they will make the trip to Mount Isa and see what the fuss is about!"
The win caps off a stellar 12 months for the rodeo.
The Rodeo qualified for the national awards by winning the gold award in the Festivals and Events category at the prestigious Queensland Tourism ands Events Awards in October.
Back in May the rodeo was also awarded major event status by the Queensland government in recognition of its growth and importance to the state's tourism industry.
President of Mount Isa Rotary Club Tracy Pertovt said congratulations were due to all of the Rotarians in Mount Isa.
“Your selfless service, volunteer hours, blood sweat and tears has paid off,” she said.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
