Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes will top the bill at the Diamond Jubilee 60th Anniversary Mount Isa Mines Rotary Rodeo in August with Shannon Noll, the McClymonts and James Blundell also playing in the four day spectacular.
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The four-day event from August 9 to 12 will see unprecedented rodeo competition between more than 600 national and international competitors.
Rodeo spills and thrills will be followed into the nights by the Rodeo Rock live concert series, culminating in the 60th Rodeo Rock Bash with rock legend Jimmy Barnes.
Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones today officially launched the 60th Anniversary Mount Isa Mines Rotary Rodeo, the biggest rodeo in the Southern Hemisphere.
“The diamond jubilee celebrations will create an electric atmosphere at this world-class rodeo competition and for the first time rodeo stars will be inducted into the new Isa Rodeo Hall of Fame,” Ms Jones said.
“Due to the success of the Isa Rodeo, this year’s event will take place over four days, to include Sunday night’s ‘birthday bash’ concert.”
The entertainment at this event will feature a dazzling array of stars including The Viper Creek Band and Shannon Noll (August 10); The McClymonts and Travis Collins (August 11); and finale 60th Bash with Jimmy Barnes, The Wolfe Brothers, Tania Kernaghan, James Blundell and Brewn.”
Ms Jones thanked organisers and sponsors for the continued success of the event which supports local jobs and attracts visitors from around the world to outback Queensland.
“In the past two years the Isa Rodeo has won both gold and silver at the Australian Tourism Awards,” she said.
“This event is supported by the Palaszczuk Government via Tourism and Events Queensland’s It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar which will inject $780 million into our state’s economy in 2018.”
Mount Isa Mines Rotary Rodeo General Manager Natalie Flecker said the week-long rodeo festival would kick off with the Rodeo Ball on Saturday, August 4.
The free Isa Street Festival, which is organised by the Mount Isa City Council, will attract thousands to the CBD on Wednesday, August 8 with an early evening street parade followed by a free concert.
The Isa Rodeo kicks off on Thursday morning, August 9, with a half-day “Rodeo Sound Check” of lower division events.
The action will then shift to the Mount Isa Race Club for the Mailman Express on Thursday night.
Rodeo competition will be held over the next three days, with a Friday night concert featuring The Viper Creek Band and Shannon Noll; a Saturday night concert featuring The McClymonts and Travis Collins.
Sunday is finals day, concluding mid afternoon so the stage can be built in the arena for the gala Birthday Bash concert headlined by Jimmy Barnes, The Wolfe Brothers, Tania Kernaghan, James Blundell and Brewn.
Ms Flecker said tickets to the event, along with three to five day Swag City packages would go on sale today (March 21) via www.isarodeo.com.au, along with rodeo holiday packages, combining accommodation, rodeo tickets and local attractions.
“The rodeo was started in 1959 by the local Rotary Clubs who wanted to put the fledgling mining town of Mount Isa on the map, with 100 pounds as prize money and drovers walking the stock in from outlying stations,” Ms Flecker said.
“The event has been supported by Mount Isa Mines from its inception, and has grown to become the largest rodeo in the southern hemisphere, attracting more than 600 competitors from around Australia and overseas and offering $230,000 in prize money and buckles.”
And given the rodeo started in 1959 why is this year the 60th jubilee rodeo?
“We held two rodeos in 1970, the second one especially for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip when they visited Mount Isa, and this is why we are celebrating the milestone of 60 rodeos in 2018, instead of 2019,” Ms Flecker said.