VISITING Mount Isa, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the iconic rodeo had grown to become the world’s third largest competition and was a major event on Queensland’s tourism calendar.
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“Last year, the Mount Isa Rodeo attracted more than 32,000 people, injected more than $9 million into the local economy and was elevated to major event status by Tourism and Events Queensland,” she said on Friday.
“There is no doubt the Mount Isa Rodeo has helped put the city well and truly on the tourist trail, and I congratulate all of the organisers and sponsors for their ongoing support and commitment to making it a major, multi-award winning event.”
Several interstate visitors attending the rodeo for the first time had praised the event.
Young Sydney family David, Olivia and four-month-old Rose Pearlman were impressed with their first visit to the Isa.
They decided to attend this year after reading a recommendation about the event in a local newspaper, which had listed places to experience across the country.
They loved visiting Outback locations.
The Pearlmans had already recommended the Mount Isa Rotary Rotary to their friends.
Also recommending the event to friends back home was Wig Bramich, from Tasmania.
She had heard of the Mount Isa rodeo for a while.
“It has not let us down,” Ms Bramich said.
“We absolutely love it. It is just brilliant.”
The much anticipated Bell & Moir Toyota Landcruiser raffle was drawn on Sunday, with locals winning the first two prizes.
Gold sponsor Bell & Moir Toyota’s principal dealer Lee Pulman sounded pleased to learn this when checking the tickets drawn by rodeo committee representative Peter Baldwin while in the middle of the Buchanan Park arena.
The $94,000 Toyota Landcruiser was won by sheet metal worker Addison Ginn.
His mother had entered the competition for him and ran into the arena to claim the prize for him.
Every year she bought a ticket for one of her children, she said. This year it was for Addison.
“Addison, you have got a Landcruiser!” she shouted.
In second place was mines operator Darby Knudson. Mr Baldwin phoned him from the Buchanan Park arena on loudspeaker to let him know he won a Toyota C-HR.
Mr Knudson sounded rather casual to learn he won second prize, but then when discovering it was valued at $30,000 he said, “aw ha! That’s fantastic.”
When asked what he had planned for the rest of Sunday, he said “I’m coming to pick up my prize.”
He was told the car was displayed in the dusty arena and needed a clean first, but he said he did not mind that.
