In the 70s you could win a pony, but these days the Mount Isa Mines Rotary Rodeo art union raffle has moved up in the world with Toyota vehicles and travel for the winners.
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The prize draw is one of the highlights of the final day especially for the first prize Toyota Landcruiser Wagon 4.5L GXL. The winner, Kerwyn Wondunna of Mount Isa, was at home when they called him from the arena and he initially refused to believe he had won.
“I thought it was a prank call,” Mr Wondunna said.
“It was only when I heard the crowd in the background I knew it was real.”
He bought his $100 ticket outside K-Mart three weeks ago. “I buy one every year when I can, though I was at Doomadgee the last couple of years,” he said.
He said the winning feeling was “fantastic”.
Isa Rodeo General Manager Natalie Flecker said the art union was a major fundraiser which has contributed almost $5m back to local community organisations.
“We are thrilled that the first prize winner is a local, and are very grateful to longtime sponsors Bell & Moir Toyota and Helloworld for their support,” Ms Flecker said.
“I would also like to thank Merilyn Harding, who ran the art union this year and our wonderful volunteers who tirelessly sold tickets in the lead up to the rodeo.”
Second prize is Toyota C-HR 1.2L (2WD) went to a Sydney winner who asked to remain anonymous and third prize of a $3000 Helloworld travel voucher went to Cathryn Howard of Emerald.
Mr Pullman said their motto was locals supporting locals.
“The rodeo is Mount Isa, and our icon event and a lot of the money it raises gets put straight back into the local community,” Mr Pullman said.
“One of the reasons the art union is so popular is your odds are so good with only 2600 tickets sold.”